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I 


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empreinte. 

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dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  ie  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE ',  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m6thode. 


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NEW    YORK 


15.    &   J.    SADL 


lER    &    CO 


1 1 


BESSY  CONWAY; 


OR. 


THE  IRISH  GIRL  IN  AMERICA. 


BY 
MRS.    J.    SADLIER, 

A.UTH0KES3   OF 
=  THK  COXFEDEKATE  CHIEPTAIXS,"    -  BLAK«S  U  FLANAGANS," 
"XKW  LIGHTS,"  "ELINOn  PKESTOX,"  "  WILLT  BURKE/' 
*0.,  AC,  &C 


NEW    YORK: 
D.  &  J.  SADLIER  &  CO.,  164  WILLIAM  STREET. 

BOSTON  :^128   FEDERAL  STREET. 
MONTREAL  :-COB.  OF  NOTRE  DAME  AND  ST.  FRANCIS  XAVIER  STS. 

^  1  S  6  1 , 


3i» 


..^    Eptered  according  to  Act  of  Congre.,  in  the  ,car  1861    by 
.  •  D.  &  J.  SADIJER   &  CO 

Southern  District  of  Xew  York. 


Slerwtypad  by  VWcENT  DlLL 

No,  24  B««lt,n«n  St.,  p/.  y. 


Iv 


.,&■ 


«. 

<» 


PREFACE 


for  Bessv  Conwat.  The  object  of  the  book  is  p  J 
enough  ;  so  plain,  indeed,  that  there  k  no  possibility  of 
any  one's  mistalcing  it  for  a  tetter  or  a  worse.  ItTs 
simply  an  attempt  to  point  on*  to  IrisA  Girls  in  America 
-espeemlly  that  nnmerous  class  whose  lot  it  is  to  hire 
bemselves  out  for  work,  the  true  and  never-failing  p.ul^ 

P   haps  m  the  vast  extent  of  the  cirilized  world,  there 

Cal        T  T'^"''^  '"  '"■'  '"""^-^^^  «""'  "■    Irish 
Cathobc  g,rls  who  earn  a  precarious  living  at  service  in 

w,th  the  workings  of  that  chaotic  mass  which  forms  the 
populahon  of  our  cities,  of  the  awful  depth  of  corrul 

,;?"  "''r:  "="  "^'"^  '"^  -'f"-.  and  the  utter  forger 
fulness  of  things  spiritual,  it  is  a  matter  of  surprise  That 

retam  their  home-virtues  and  follow  the  teachinffs  of 
rehgion  ,„  these  great  Babylons  of  the  west 

Ihe  subject  looms  up  before  us  in  tremendous  propor- 
tions as  we  come  to  consider  it,  and  the  mind  shrMs 

eS'th        I''  """""^"''^  ^"O  Fobabiiities      t 

z:i^:7S::z^!^.f^- .  ^^  ™^'  -^of 

,^--,  -„..r  «npro.ccifu  siate,  generally  speaking ; 


IV 


PREFACE. 


t  ;e  dangers  of  every  ki„<,  amutinR  tl.ora  after  they  have 
«  wed    he  «,oori„g.,  whieh  bound  them  i„  safety  to  the 
old  Chnst,a„  laud,  where  virtue  and  religion  are    ,.c 
coni:    r?'  -^.  u..fo.-tuoateiy,  the  nJschief  i 
confined  to  themselves.     Kvery  woman   has  a  mission 

lax  and  the  fooI,sh,  and  the  unprincipled  will  find  hns- 
bauds  as  well  as  the  good  and  virtuona'     The  X  "f 
■■  fluenee  thus  extended,  who  can  oalenlate  the  re  ults 
whether  good  or  ill  f  results. 

Some  may  ky  that  I  have  drawn  too  gloomy  a  pic- 
ture    fench  persons  know  little  about  it.     Th«  reaHty 
exceeds  my  powers  of  description,  and  I  have  on  y.^ 
ay  m  couelus.on.  that  the  fathers  and  mothers  who  suff  r 
tl>e.r    young  daughters   to  come   out   unprote  ted   tl 

1   ^ktw  ;,     ."'  ^'"'^  '"""  '"^«  ^'''■'  "f  them,  did 
New  Cd  "'"'  """'  '■="'  ''^'^  ^'^  '"'"e 

I  have  written  this  book  from  a  sincere  and  heartfelt 
des.re  to  benefit  these  young  country-women  o  m  n  t 
.howmg  them  how  to  win  respect  and  inspire  confid  nco 
on  the  part  of  their  employers,  and  at  the  same  time  ^ 
avo,d  the  snares  and  pitfalls  which  have  been  the  r'uin 
of  so  many  of  their  owu  class.  Let  them  be  assu  ed 
that,  t  rests  with  themselves  whether  they  do  well  or  11 

Tnd  tr"T;;""''"'''  ""^^  '"  •""'"^  *°  "--'  country 
ard  their  faith,  or  bring  shame  and  reproach  to  both. 

New  Yobk    June,  1861. 


'• 


I 


Mm  COJYWAY; 


OR, 


THE  IRISH  GIRL  IN  AMERICA. 


CHAPTER  I. 
I»  lh«  heart  of  the  rich  and  fertile  county  of  Tipperarr  not 
on  Z  ':r*  "'  M°  '"''''''^"- ""'  "'"■™'  inTeTado: 
lortable  farm-house  OB-ned  by  one  Bonis  Conway,  as  decent  a 
mn,  so  the  neighbors  say,  as  you  would  find  i„  OoVv    co,  „ 
tl    Den,s  ,swhat  you  may  call  a  -sponsible  farmer  "Te 

and  that  at  an  easy  rent,  so  easy,  indeed,  that  Denis  is  puttinJ 
by  sometI,,ng  every  year  for  the  "rainy  day."  No  wonde'r 
th.    he  should,  When  he  can,  for  ho  has  lived  throur.le 

stared  m  at  the  door  and  pestilence  at  the  window ,  when  a 
^"Ung  was  worth  a  precious  life,  and  a  pound  of  meal  its 
we,ght  .„  gold,  because  of  the  hunger  that  was  gnawi„ran  e 
people's  hearts,  and  Denis  Conway  had  seen  all  th^t    ,1 . 
moreoyer,  he  had  lost  his  farm  and  lis  dwerg  in  that    rea^ 

t  "y  oolTnd  71  r  """  ■"''  '™"^  ">  '"*  *e>t-  whe^ 
fearfully  ,„  arrear.    So  even  as  a  burnt  MM  is  said  to  dread 

lo^tL  God  ,1  '"'r^ '^"  "' ^^'"""  ^«-»  P-niless  a'd  ' 
now  that  God  had  sriven  him  Knot-  +v^  vi_-_._       -  ' 

„.!.._,^  ,^„  uicaaiiig  oi  prosperity, 


BESSY    con-way;     OR,  v 

of  trial  come  "  ^'"^^^  ^''''^^  should  the  day 

a4tarr„X"r::i -«■--- -- 

that  of  experience      Ui,libr„,        T.     '^  "°"''  ''^^'y  "'•"> 
'.e  had  seen  „™  „„e  b^t      T.       '  f™"*  ""<i  neighbors 

hnnger_red„eed  to  '^1    '7      """""  """"'■»■  "»'"'•  "f 
for  ^hole  days  wilhou'  eaHn  ''  "^  ""=^  "=">  """•  """l 

that  relief  ahvarcaZ /.  n   °  "  J"""""- ">■'»'*  ""  happened 

«-  was  a,.ayrrth:' '  It  t:'''"'o^d"? "" "°'-^ 

provider."    Surely  Denis  foLw,       ^'"^  '    ' '^'^  «   »  good 
patient  reliance  on  DMnePrt  '"■  ""^  '"'  •='"""'"'  ""^ 

else  could  he  and  W    live  ,      /"f  "' '""' '■'"■"'''-'•    '^O"' 
more  remarkab  Je      e™' "^If"  ^^  ""-^  "-"-  "n-I.  still 

Old  homestead  ani  relvate  t  oH,  tl,    I"  f ' '"°''  '■°"'  "'» 

ayl  and  a  great  dea,  bet  er   "  t V  Jamelbr  f"""  °"'"-' 
Stable,  aiul  the  cow<,  in  th.  i.        f  T  ^®  ^^°^^^  '»  tlio 

the  oa'ts.  J:^z^^:;:^:^^'j^' ''- ''''  ^^' 

at  the  end  of  the  house  i    w5,albnf  tW  .      t?  '''  ^"^^"''^ 
in  which  Denis  had  tZf.il  J^,\  ^°"°"^"^  Providence 

darkest.  ''^'^  ""  ^'^'^S'  ^^«»  ^^^en  things  looked 

But  Iiow  did  Providence  brin-  all  this  abonf  1  r  ^ 
my  readers  ask,  and  that  is  iusl  wha   r  .  "'  '"""'  '^ 

ibie  agents  are  always  emplo^erto  calrouTZ  '?  •^"'    ""''• 
omy  in  regard  to  human  affairs     ^^  J  ,  ''"^  ''°"- 

^vay's  Providence  1   who^ehrd '  .         '''''''''  ^'"'^  ^^^'- 
and  his  family  from  7hM/      ^n^Ployed  to  draw  hira 

Whole  couS;y^wren:uf^drVn^^^  '""''"'^^  ^^^ 

Bessy,  tfie  eldest  of  hif  hUd'ren  who  .  .  '  '"°  ''"°'^°^ 
years  before,  in  the  service  of  1  .V?°  .  f  ^°*"  *°  ^™^"^a 
a  fancy  to  the  eirlLcI  w^i  V^^*"'"  '  ^^^^  ^'^^^  had  taken 
to  a  dressmake?.  '       "'  '''  "^^  ^^^^'^"^  ^^  ««^« 

Bes:yTe:i^tfd1n':^^^^^^^  ^^«  ^-"y-hea 

in  acceptmg  the  tempting  offer  which  would 


■/•HE    7RIsn   GIRL    IX   AMERICA. 


*1 


enable  hor  to  "  soo  tho  world."    For  years  long  that  had  been 
tho  dream  of  her  young  heart,  ay  !  ever  since  tho  days  of  her 
childhood,  and  although  she  would  not  positively  disobey  her 
parents,  and  go  without  their  consent,  she  gave  them  plainly 
to  understand  that  she  would  never  be  happy  unless  they  gave 
it,  and  under  that  pressure  the  old  couple  were  forced  to  give 
in.    Very  unwillingly  they  did  so.    Tho  world  was  smiling  on 
them  at  the  time,  they  were  contented  and  happy  themselves, 
and  tliey  could  not  sympathize  with  tho  love  of  change  which 
had  unsettled  their  daughter's  mind.    If  it  had  been  Nancy, 
now,  or  Nelly,  or  one  of  the  boys  that  took  such  a  wild  notion 
into  their  heads,  "  a  body  wouldn't  wonder,"  the  old  mother 
said,  "  but  Bessy  that  was  ever  and  always  a  rock  of  sense, 
and  the  best  child  that  over  drew  breath,  she  to  think  of  leav- 
ing them  in  their  old  age,  and  turn  her  back  on  all  belonging 
to  her— that  was  something  so  far  beyond  the  range  of  proba- 
bility that  they  could  hardly  believe  it  at  all,  and  only  awoke 
from  their  stupor  of  surprise  to  And  Bessy  prepared  "  for  tho 
Start,"  and  themselves  expected  to  go  with  the  rest  of  the  con- 
voy on  the  following  day  to  Waterford  to  see  her  and  some 
neighbor  boys  and   girls  off  for  America.     So  Denis   and 
Bridget  had  only  to  make  the  best  of  it  and  see  that  Bessy 
should  want  for  nothing  on  her  long  and  tedious  voyage,  which 
appeared  to  their  simple  minds  as  an  undertaking  of  awful 
importance,  fraught  with  danger  of  every  kind,  pro°bablo  and 
improbable.    Finding  that  her  mistress  had  provided  her  with 
almost  everything  necessary  for  tho  voyage,  and  had,  more- 
over, paid  her  passage,  all  her  parents  could  do  was  to  give 
her  the  money  intended  for  her  outfit  and  passage,  with  a 
trifle  to  the  back  of  it,  too,  so  that  poor  Bessy  might  have 
something  to  draw  on  if  things  went  against  her  in  the  strange 
country  for  which  she  was  bound. 

It  was  a  sorrowful  parting  between  Bessy  Conway  and  her 
father  and  mother,  and  brothers  and  sisters,  who  had  hitherto 
been  her  world.    It  was  to  her  something  like  launching  into 


s 


R-., 


9nf»Y  CONTTAY  ;     OR 


«li  regions  Oi     ir  fm.  i.-. 

k^i  «.  .....ing  hope,  for  Bossy  1,1  T'       ,  T'  '"•'5''tenod  by 

^.'n  case  ,he  did  not  like  li^  '^""'^ ''"'"^  ^«  c«n,H,arIc 
«P«cial  condition  that  in  a„v  '''"' ""^'  «''«  >vent  with  t  ,1 
course  Of  a  few  years   i^  c^,  ""''•  '^''  ^^«"'d  return  b  t  ! 

r  rr-'y  --i'  int r ;:',  r  ^^-^^  ^^^^,  l 

and  h,s  fan.i,y  f,,^  ,,^  very  Cw  ,  ?'  "'^^  ^*'«'-"  ^^-P^X    " 

ll'^   Then  there  was  a  first  00^^31 '!/rr''^' '""'''  ^-'"e'»- 
''y  "amo,  as  steady  and  as  rll  ""  ^'''^^'•'«.  Ned  Fini.a„ 

Parish  he  came  uZ     C     '"'  "  ^'^^  '^^  "x"*;  was  in  fh 
-^1'^  ';neit.er:;;ie^      -;;-;?;;;.  on  ^^I  LaehJlJ^^^^ 

^  "^^''  ■'^essy  shoiiJf]  r.«^  '  ""^"  t  he  hia  own 

^essy  but  she'd  do  well      «J.  '  ^'^'''®  ^'^^  I'ttle  fear  J 

;vhau        „„.  ,„,, ;«;  ^        -r.  0  ^„,,^  ^^  ^o.„ 

heart  and  tearful  eyes  th-.t  ti        ,  ''  ""'^^  ^'^'"i  a  boavv 

;^e  stealer  that  bore  aw  y  L  rV:-;  'f '"^  ^^^^^  -tc  .nT 
f  7  the  wharf.    Away  anlaZ'Z     '""''"'''^  ^"^  «P««ere3 
Joud  from  the  shore  rises  2       ^^'''' *^"  ^^^'"^  ^'^^  «Ioared 
crowd  Of  ,Wends  and    eTa,  e   Z^'r  "^  ^'  ^^^^^  ^'-  t  >e 
comes,  a  sad.  wild  choru      i''  I-^/'"""'  ''^^  ^oat  the  echo 
Messages  to  iViends  in  Ar;ica«;.'^    "'^'^    ^^^'oe^    min. t 
o  those  on  board,  injuncUo    ^^^t  ''^  ^"^  ^''"'^  -"«^  «    ' 
and  all  the  late  last  words  Mth  wll     T''''  "^  "^^^  ^«nded 
^-.  the  intercourse  that  i;;;!;^^^^^^^^^^  seeks  to  pjj 

tease,  perhaps  forever. 


THE   IRISH    GIKi-   IV    AMERICA.  g 

''  If  you  gc,  to  Uao  Now  0,  '-^ans,  Peter,  don't  forget  to  call 
and  8oe  Lucy !"  >  »     vu  v^u 

"  Mind  what  I  toll  you,  Terence,  abou  that  man  in  Ilalilax- 
bo  8uro  to  find  him  out  for  me."  Terence  prun.iscd,  for  'the 
twentieth  time  perhaps,  wholly  unmh.dfal,  as  was  his  friend 
of  the  trifling  difflculty  that  his  destination  was  rhUadeluhia- 
no  uialtor  anyhow,  Halifax  and  Philadelphia  wero  both  In 
^raenca  that  was  enough  to  know  ;  the  rest  was  easy. 

Godr  '"'^  ^'^''■^^'"  ^'""''^  "'^"^  '"  the  Spring,  please 

"  Let  Patrick  know  that  we  lost  the  hill  farm  •" 

»i,r  '^'",7^  ""^^«  ^'^^'  ^vo  never  got  a  scroll  from  Biddv  sine* 
Bho  went  to  Boston !" 

Promises  came  back  over  the  water  from  a  multitude  of  ea^^er 
voices,  hands  and  hats  and  many-colored  handkerchiefs  wero 
waved,  fervent  prayers  and  wishes  were  excha.igcd,  eyes  were 
«tra.ned  to  distinguish  the  faces  of  near  and  dear  ones,  Jaint  and 
fainter  came  the  wai  ling  voices  to  ears  that  listened  for  their  latest 
sound    the  haze  of  distance  gradually  blended  into  one  the 
d.st.nctave  features  of  the  crowd  on  deck  and  the  crowd  on 
sho  0,  yet  hands  and  hate  were  still  seen  waving  the  last  fare- 
well; soon  even  these  were  lost  sight  of,  the  waters  rolled  be- 
in.' fh  '^'^T"'  '"^  '^'^'''''  ""•^  '^'  ''^^^'^  ^vas  plough, 
mg  through  Waterford  harbor  on  her  way  to  Liverpool 

Denis  Conway  and  his  family  retraced  their  homeward  steps 
not  m  sdence,  but  in  sorrow,-scarceIy.  if,  at  all,  lessened  by 
tho  number  of  their  neighbors  similarly  afflicted.  They  feli 
at  the  moment  as  if  they  had  left  Bessy  in  the  churchyard 
clay,  and  the  ^.htest  heart  among  them  was  weighed  down 

tw  Tu'       "°  ''  ''^"  ^"^''  ^'^^^^^  ^«  ^''->-J-«  that 
hey  should  ever  see  her  face  again,  her  promise  to  the  con- 
trary no^ithstanding,  and  when  any  of  the  neighbors  re- 

and  said:   ''God  grant  she  may!  but  America's  a  long  way 


10 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


\ 


Jo-'  ™„  ot  September  wr.Mrfr','''''  '"'  •"■'«'■'"«"- 
^""es  and  Norman,  built  in^t^/,'      ''""^  "">•"'  -«=" 
Conway  heeded  them  not,  1  tlTe  i    ^  ^""^  ''^'  ''^'  ^eay 
for  the  memories  that  hnig  ar^^'^/.r  ""''  "'""^h^  oared 
">»  P»sl.    The  splendid  er^ctfons  of     T  "'"""■'""^  '*=  »' 
unnoticed  by  the  sorrowing.  gH    nol"°?"  "''  ^"'^  "^-^''y 
*.lb around  the  eityorthe  bl^emolT      '^ ^''"'^-'""lulaang 
h»'  a  moment's  pleasure  as  her  ?T     '^  ">  ««  distance  gare 

'■""  *o  «s  leaving,  perhan,  ff  ^   '"'  °'"'  ^""J  "'ought 

'o  pay  any  attention  „!hi„T,      ""'•  ""  ""^  'o'ed  on  ear"h 
'«•    She  was  pas:i  :t^  ^„f  "V'«  "o^u-  of  her„:  ' 
Pn-oes  ruled  and  the  proud  pi?"  "''"'°™'  ""'"■«  I>^"ish 
"I-ere  Strongbow  wedded  the  "^  """"  "'"•"our. 

'ough,  and  Cromweil  leV  rvr„d",' '""^"''^  °' "^'M--' 
monuments  of  art,  and  where  r  J  ,t  """■''  ""  "«  sacred 
Of  Ireland-what  a  worTd  of  .  '  '°*  "^  '^^"  «"-e»ell 

annals  of  one  city,  ylZlLl  ""'  ^"^  ""^od  into  hi 
'»«  Of  the  cottage'bene  ™  r™""'"^^-  S".  was  think! 
-■ay,  and  -ondfring  /  ",  ^0,'^"^  ""'='  »""  »"- 
Nelly  or- Nancy  milk  her  that  e  """"^r"  would  let 

-ould  make  her  fa.herV.p*t;r'"f'r  "'■'■'''  "'  «'"'  8'* 

'^"°""^'^--'---="-^nLT;ent^rr 


THE    IRISH    GIRL   IX    AMERICA. 


11 


ronnded  her  paternal  dwelling,  ay !  even  to  the  lone  bush  in 
the  pasture>field  which  had  been  the  terror  of  her  childish 
days. 

Bessy  was  roused  from  her  sorrowful  musing  by  the  voice 
of  her  mistress,  who  had  come  in  search  of  her.  She  had 
wholly  forgotten  the  new  state  into  which  she  had  entered 
and  It  was  with  a  feeling  of  pleasure  that  she  now  prepared  to 
commence  the  discharge  of  her  duty,  hoping  to  find  relief  in 
occupation.  She  therefore  followed  Mrs.  Walters  to  the  cabin 
with  a  buoyant  step  and  a  somewhat  lighter  heart.  More 
than  one  friendly  voice  hailed  her  as  she  passed,  and  Mary 
Murphy,  Peery's  youngest  daughter,  caught  her  arm  with  a 
girlish  laugh. 

"  Take  your  time,  Bessy,  there's  luck  in  leisure  i' 

wantemrV^''^''°'^'^^''''^^'^''  ^"""'^  ^'°"  '""'  ^^^  "^''^'^'^ 

Mary  laughed  again  as  she  turned  to  her  eldest  sister  •  "  See 

riready!''  *""  ^'  ^  '''^'''  Passenger!  we're  puttin' airs  on  us 

Jn  it^rT''^  ^^  ^  reproachful  glance,  and  passed 
on.  but  Ally  Murphy  rebuked  her  sister  and  told  her  she  saw 
no  airs  on  Bessy.  ''  Fou  see  she's  not  her  own  mistress  now." 
aid  the  senate  maiden,  who  was  verging  on  the  sober  age  of 
hir  y  ';  It  isn't  old  times  with  her.  Mary,  and  she  does  .;i,  to 
tn^jT       '   ^''''   ^"°'''   ^  Sood  beginnin'  makes  a   good 

who  wa  sitting  on  a  very  small  wooden  box  that  contained 
her  goods  and  chattels,  "it's  you  that  has  the  purty,  graceful 
way  with  you,  ..._  ..e  good  word  in  your  mouth !  Some  Way 
my  heart  warms  to  you.  an'  its  the  same  with  the  fair-haired 
CO  een  that^  gone  in  there.  Is  she  anything  to  you,  n^ackree  r 
Not  a  drop's  blood,  granny,  only  the  good  wish  that's 
between  us_we  came  from  the  same  place,  and  she's  an  old 
tviiiiiiuo  01  mine." 


12 


BKSSY   COX\^'aY;    or, 


\ 


There's  .  boy  o'f  mLesom"  Lrett"/"*""  ''■"  S"'"'  '»• 
eoin'  to  try  and  r,ako  him  „"  ,  I  "  ""T"""'  """  ''■"  J"=' 
but  bim,  you  sse,  an'  I  Z2r,J  '  '  ™"' '"  "■"  '™"<1 

'WO  yea«  co.e'cand.et  '  T  tllriT  '™  ""» 
grow  young  acrain  if  T  r.ni„  )    /  ^  °^^  ^«*''t  would 

IgotenoughforittobrinVmeout"  """"   """"'   «"<" 

ao::s^b:';f;r::^tit  ;^7;«;;^;..«  A„y.  a,  a,.  .„ 

3on's  Ii.in.  or  dead  when'  yoTdidn'  h      V"°"  """""'  ''»" 
yoara  J"  ^°"  ""'"  '  bear  from  him  these  two 

"lirin'  or  dead!"    reneats,!    (i,.     i 
what  would  kill  him  1    Don'.  I  t  °   '''"P'^''  ""% 

Why  wouM'nt  ho  1    An'  Vnl.A  ™^  """  '"''»  «""'  ^ 

Ood,  before  long!    The  las'  let      t°,"V°"'  "'*  "«  '»"P  °f 
P'aee  they  call°Hi-o    or  o  h  o   T  .     '  '™'"  "™  ™  '"  " 

-PPOse  .  13  not  very' J,rtm'Se,v  tl  'td  :'"""'  ""'  ' 
Of  such  a  place  ?"  '    "'^^"^  ^-ou  ever  Lear 

far'frm  NeVCv' '  "'  ""'^  "'"' "'  ^O"  -^' "  -"''be  very 

a.;.eda„dm.ere3t:\:j::::reXr ""  ^°="  - 

"I  am,  indeed,  my  .rood  To'  '  ""'  '"  e--"-ne3t!" 

you  .111  find  to'yoic  :n,r;.:rr'"" '" ''""™''- 

you."  .     ""'^^^  >ou  have  some  money  hy 

How  ion.  would  Htal  'a    ^n^  ZTZ:  """  ^  ^''  "™- 

"^  *"  g<*'  please  your  honor  ?" 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA.  Jg 

"  Pour  or  five  days,  I  fancy."* 

"  Oh !  wisha,  if  that's  all,"  an4  the  old  woman  brightened  un 

"The  mistress  wants  you,  sir!"  said  Bessy  Conway  emer^ina 
from  the  cabin  and  addressing  the  gentleman.         "^        ^  ^ 

her  "  ""  ^°'^^'  ^"^  ^"^^^^  -^«^  Bessy  if  that  was 

"  To  be  sure-that  is  Captain  Walters.    He's  ag-Mn'  to  his 

rert!:^'^  ''  ^i-PooI,  an' it's  in  ..  we're 'airgl'^o 

samhe'oLT"''  '"'^'  "^''^  "  "^*^^'  '^'^-«P«^^«"  gentleman." 
said  the  old  woman,  whose  name  was  Dolly  Sheehan  "  an'  L 

fn.-fh'^,"^'  """^  ■';'''''  ''°"''  "''-  «'"""''■  ''°«n''  he  go  back  and 

„„  m!  ■'  =7'  '  "■  '""^  '  '''^'"'  °*  W"  if  he  ever  heard  of 
one  Ph,l,p  Sheehan.  Maybe  y»rt  ask  him  the  queation  »1 
colleen,  lawn  !"  addressing  Bessy.  question,  ma 

myleinoltsf  f "'  'f  "*  >>™-I'd  be  a  little  daunted 
mysell  to  make  so  free,  an-  me  only  a  stranger,  But  Where's 
8l!  the  rest  of  them.  Ally  ■!  Ithoiiehni,^  v  -ouiwneres 
"If.,  .'„„..  .•  /  ''"""gn'they  were  here  with  you." 
wJof  tr  ,  r  ""  '"'"  ">  ^"'."  «■""  Mary,  taking  the 
W  "  and    b       '  •?:;"'•     "  ^""^  '"^^  »-■  "  y«-  --t  to 

f.a^i^'iurrwai-siLi^tdtra:: 
::sr— rw^hrhoTar:— ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

^^*  Three-ond-twenty  yean,  ago  travelling  wa.  not  «o  rapid  a.  it  i. 


14 


BESSY    CONWAY  J     OR, 


»™,uhe  audience  compZdaUwRI,;''  """"^  """"'•  '""^ 
>vho»o  lead  of  ,„„o«  ZiocZ,  I  '""™«'  "™P'  "  ''^ 
any  diversion.  Pel  m!' ,"  T7,""''  """""'  '°  """""'f 
'.""chback'a  first  ..ditoat'dNt  'p-"  ''' '™'"  "■""'■-■^'  "■° 
>■.«»  dangling  n-en,  the   op'ef  a  pi  of  i:"'""'""''  "'»  '""« 

::^S;':;tii:rt;^---s;:Lr:r^ 

»^  you  ple«e.  They  °r  'v  "1  ""'.°'  "''"'"'"•  ""  ™"'P'<"« 
do,  even  to  their  wT*°a„TIt°u  '"  V"-'-"'"'"- they 
another  five  or  six  „,ii„  ,  ,        '^  "  """"  "»""  to  see 

'ion.  ho  ..as  n  t  ,'„"t  doTut":.  ""''r  "*  """  "  ""- 
door,  and  when  he  «„!  to  If'  l"/"'  ''""  '°  '""  ""^ 
leather  strap  that  r„m  .t  f  T'  '"'  """  ""'y  '»  P""  a 
«at,  and,  my  dear  Zton^T  "°  ""*  "•™  '"«  ^*er-, 
lord  Of  the  iLd  W  rCr' ■"ir-'-'^'^-.  -  if  ■-  was  the 
pair  Of  breeches  .r  an  Ji  J  J  '™°  "'"'  "  """•'  "^o".  "■■  a 
basket  of  fish  wly  th°v  ?.  '™^'  "'  "  ''•™"'  ""ha 
taken  to  the  p'lace'; tVr..  "' '"'°  """  """''■■  -"  "--V'™ 

ejacuTatd":::."":',-'/-' -P-t  ...eyshow  the  peopiel- 

country  „1,  „ut,.  cried  anothe^  C;'.,'  ""''  "  "■"  ""« 
thorn  elegant  coaches  insTr  .,  ""'  ^'"''■■''"^"t  has 
This  last  speaker  wa'CK^-""  t"  "'"'"^  «■»■»  ™lkin' ." 

"Well,  n'o,.  notTh    g^ef.Zt"';:""'''^™''''  "=""■ 
President  does  it."    A-Td  pir^'^d  l        P-'^^'O'-'-ifs  the 
with  a  pecnliarly  knowlnglool  "'"'  °"  ""'  •"^'•""'« 

"  The  President,  who  is  he  1" 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA- 


16 


in  America  1" 


Oh,  bedad  !  he',  a  fine  old  gentleman  Ihey  have  eot  there 
ccmn'  money  for  them.     Thafa  to  bu,..,e,,:  and  ifet  .i  u 
hard  and  fast  from  one  year's  end  to  the  other      He',  a 
,1        'I  °,       '"'"  °'  everything  that',  goin'  on,  an',  a,  I 
told  you  before,  it'a  him  that  ha,  the  coaches  an,;ever;thn, 
c„mmod,ou,  j„,t  waitin'  for  you  and  me.    All  the  people  call 

Washinltl:  '"  "  "'"'  '™'  ""'"^  ="  "  "'-o  '""^  -" 

^^^l:it7 '-"'  '*^'  «^' '" '°  -°  '"•"■--"» 

"y'elf,"  '"'°     ■    "'""''  '  »"="'»  "and.  With  him  once 

,.1?'!^^^  '"'f '  ""'"  ""^  ^'''"'"'™' '"-"  *'«■  'he  onld  gentle. 

man  tha    make,  the  money And  what  did  ho  say  hon 

e.t  man  ,"-"  what  doe,  he  look  like,  at  all  1"-"  I'ml're  hi 
was  ever  so  grand  !"  ® 

"  Grand  !  why,  God  help  your  wJt.  you  could  hardly  look  at 
h.m  fpr  the  goold  and  silver-he'd  daLle  your  eyes '•' 

Maybe  he's  a  sort  of  a  conjurer,"  put  in  old  Dolly  Sheehan 
who  had  succeeded  after  much  trouble  in  maki  g  heTway 
through  the  crowd.     "If  he  wasn't  he'd  never  be  able  to  coin 
all  the  money  that's  in  America     Tf'«  i;t     i,        •  , 
where  I'd  find  Philip."  ''  ^'^'  ^'  '^'^^'  ^«"  "^« 

"  Philip  who  ]"  asked  the  hunchback  quickly  and  earnestly 
There  was  something  in  the  name  that  struck  a  chordTnh^ 
heart,  or,  at  least,  in  his  memory 

AmedcT/'"''  Sheehan,  to  be  sure-that's  ^,  son  that's  in 

■'And  yorcWe  Philip  Sheehans  mother  1"  questioned  Paul 
w.th  a  sudden  change  of  manner,  and  he  fixed  his  keen  bS 
eyes  on  the  wrinkled  face  before  him  '    ^ 

^';  The  sorra  one  else  I  am,  my  good  man  !-mavb, 
i-iiiHp  yourself  {"  '"" 


1  TTA11 


16 


BESSV  CONWAY;    OR, 


" Tri-^f'l!'""''  "  "'"'P  Shoehan  once 

whe^r;  ,'    "'"  """'-'  •"-■•■•■  »"  you,  «.e„,  and  .e„  „, 

Tho  linncliback  shook  his  head      "  r  .  •  ,.  r 
Cut.  a>,re.  „aybe  it  wasn,  y^^'^n  a   !«    Vr"'  "''"•"  ' 

WM  a  waiter  in  a  hotel ••  '    '^''•'  o""  '  m»an 

"  That's  hira-thafs  him  !"  cried  tl,.  „m 
and  she  caught  hold  of  P,,,. .  ^7  '"'  ""'""  Joyfully, 

one  that  had  seen  I  or  s„!  "L  «"  '  ""'  "'"''  "  '"'•  "'  "  "»;' 
«nd  to  ho  priced  accor  ™  X^T'  '."-«  '»  >-'«>f. 
«  in  the  last  letter  I  cot  frL  ..""'■"'"»  J""'  "hat  he  was 
"O"  '    If  you  know  Ood  1>  '    ^'"  "'''"-"lere  is  he 

Ooin'  an  ac't  of  chaWty  for'l:.:  7rT  '°"  "'°'  °"'  ""''"  •"> 
don't  know  Where  to  fac'l  after  hi^  '"'™  '"  ""=  """'  "'  ' 

fan^"  ThXiralTd'h-  Tt^'Z''''  "''■  •""  '"'»  »"  '""  <>f 
he  pretended  to  Lk !„  '  .         '""°"  '^''°*  '"™^''  P"''.  but 

piercing  g,a„e:/HVf:eLTTr''^''*°°'^"™»' 

offthewitheredhanltt  was„!M  •."°''  "■•""  '°  '*""■' 

the  hand  would  not  stir  ""■■• ''°'  '">  '"''<' '»  '«!". 

™d/ontSere';'.rs:et?:r'''r'""'''' '■-'' '=™-"'- 

V«f  ^on-no.er.-„ '.er-tr,  '; LTn  'D's/'"  "7\^  '='  «« 
Wisened  face  almost  cIosa  fn  i^!       i  ^''®  P"'  ^^'i'  old 

*e  conld  read  thTset  ^   "  "" TeTr:°'° ^r ^^''  "'■■' 
-an-where  is  Philip  Sheehanl  Jh  ^Th  .ri' ^  °  "'"'"' 
„  I ''    '"'"  '  "»»■'  >"'-v '"  said  he  doggedly    ' 

"  W  eTn'^r  '°~'r  '"  ""■  ^■"-'  k"".  '00- 
"rm  pIt  """'"""''■'y  "o™"".  "oyou  are— I" 

Wan.e  me,  agra l-dl'^.t  "^ 7™  Le-Tn't  to"'  °"  ™"-^""'' 
for  askin'-sare  he's  all  I  have  aTl.  m      ''"/"grywith  me 

nave,  an  I  sold  my  little  place  to  go 


THE    IRISH    OIRL    IK    AMERICA. 


It 


en,  and  tell  mo 


t^Jjim.but  v^hero's  the  uHe  if  I  don't  know  where  to  find 

The  tears  were  streaming  from  the  old  woman's  eves  and 
indeed  there  were  few  dry  eyes  around.  No  one  Jas  ^o  ^ 
moved  than  the  queer  little  hunchback 

"Well!  now,  granny,  m  jist  tell  you  the  truth,"  said  he 

I  dvd  know  your  son  when  I  was  out  here  before  but-bu^!! 

ho.  can  I  tell  where  he  is  now-I'm  home  ever  sincell^:^ 

CO  1  n't'teV  w  r '"^  '  ""  ^  ^°"^^^^^'  '^  -  fairy-doctor 
couldn  t  tell  what  became  of  him  since  1" 

TI)ero  was  no  going  beyond  this,  so  the  old  woman  dropped 
hKs  hand  and  turned  away  with  a  heavy  sigh 

hiil!l"f\fh  '''"/r^r^"'"''  °^"*^«^«dthe  hunchback  to 

~::rro;  ^^'^  ^^^^^^^^^  ^^^-'^-^^^  ^— ith 

bvl7\"''  ^°^  ^'''"'  °'  ^''^'  ^"^^'^"  questioned  one  of  the 
b  standers,  a  good-looking  elderly  woman  in  a  blue  cloak 
who  had  been  paying  particular  attention  all  along  ' 

nnlnl,  7"!^/°^  g'^«  to  know,  dear  1"  retorted  Paul  so 
qu  ckly  and  with  such  a  droll  grimace  that  a  roar  of  l.ught^r 
followed,  and  the  woman  in  the  blue  cloak  slunk  ItTyti; 

Bessy  Conway  had  been  an  attentive  and  deeply-interested 
witness  of  this  scene,  and  she  was  hastening  after  Ihed Leon 
solate  mother  of  Philip  Sheehan  to  offer  some  words  of  co": 
fort  and  encouragement,  when  a  voice  spoke  at  her  ear 
Not  a  word  or  a  look  for  me,  Bessy  ?"  '      * 

The  girl  raised  her  eyes  with  a  start  and  a  blush,  and  met 
the  reproachful  glance  of  a  good-looking  young  m;n  wh^' 

dress^ndgeneraldeportmentwereconsiderablyaboZCer 
ant  cass  to  which  most  of  the  emigrants  belonged  The"' 
was  a  sm.rt,  knowing  look  about  him  which  savored  of  thi 


18 


II  ■ 


BESSY   CONWAY;    OR, 


'Why,  llien,  Mistor  Henry  i»  »  i, 
»orM  brings  you  V  °'°  """  »"  '  "Iiat  In  the 

-i'-n,  t ":  „:;!,"  """^ ""»« -  ,-„,,.  „  „„,^,  ^^_, 

to  Arr,::^:™  I'l-^""  -'  ^-■•°«  ^°»  *--    ^re  y„.  g„,„„ 
;;  I'm  going  Wherever  y„„g„,. 

would  never  hear  of  your  g"i„„  .'T'  ^"^  '^^•'"'■-  ""'I  mother 
amy  from  tf«„  /    ^1^4  ./„  "»/°  ^■""'=».  or  anywl,  ,re  else, 

••»»e  -    Oh,  master  Hen  ~loT  T,  "  ^°°''  ^"'«'-  » 

"I  know  what  Vm  uiZt  ■    r!^,   7^'  ^""'"•^  ""o"' '" 
"And  rd  have  ^„„  to  L'w  mSZlV""""  ""  *"P'^- 
old  now  to  be  lied  to  „„  mihe  rt  !     ^  ^°°"''^'  """  ^'m  too 

IWdyouweregoi„g'^.„7*:i:arZ*°="-    ^"°°"  - 
to".  but  you  may  be  sure  itlT        "  '*'  °P  ""^  '^'"^  to  go 

~  known  t^o  ..;T.^ZZ7^  "  '"^^'"'-    "  '  '»" 

-n^a!'ar;rr,^Trr;„?br  '^^-^ '  -^-  ^^  - 
-^LHt^Tu  t-;atrfnd%r;  -  -— . 

«='«r  marry  a  man  at  hit  1  'b     ^  «"'=' ^^eanor,  ■■  ni 
my  Barents  -■•  *'""°  "  »"'™''<i  'kat  is  not  plea;i„.  („ 

"You  won't,  Bessy  1" 
•No.  sir,  never  f  an  w 

-eb^y  tha,  willll: r7uter .?"'  "  "■>'  -  '«*  -- 
-PP«soItakeyo„.ty„ur„ord-„haUhen,..  demanded 


* 


5  f  what  In  the 
*  a  Wonder  you 
Are  you  going 


to  say!"  ex- 
er  and  mother 
•nywi.  -re  else, 
•d  America  at 
>  about .'" 
man  sharply, 
that  I'm  too 
As  soon  as 
^  mind  to  go, 
If.    If  I  had 

what  d'>  you 
at  home  on 
comin'  after 

I  talk — one 
-ruined  in- 
marry  you 


an  energy 
anor,  "  I'jj 
pleasin'  to 


THE    IRISH   GIRL   IN*   AMERICA. 


19 


Henry  with  a  peculiar  smile  that  made  Bessy  Conway's  clieek 

SC!ll  let, 

"For  God's  sake,  do '"  she  said  fervently,  clasping  her  hands 
asshespoke.  '«Do,.  on' you'll  have  my  blessh^g!  Go-go' 
-gonow!  there's  then  ..^ess!  Iwouldn't  for  the  world  ..he'd 
see  us  together !" 

She  hurried  away  obedient  to  a  sign  from  Mrs.  Walters 
1  avmg  the  young  man  to  digest  what  she  had  said  as  best  he 
nnght.  He  was  standing  looking  after  Bessy  with  a  mingled 
expression  of  anger  and  adn,iration  on  his  fine  open  emu  to 
nance,  when  a  hand  was  laid  on  his  arm,  and  turn  n.  oui  klv 
he  encountered  the  upturned  face  of  the  hunchback  °  ^ 


^ook  after 
demanded 


20 


BESSr  CONWAY;    OR, 


CHAPTER  ir. 


«w'«  "1  "r  C"  "-"■  ''""  ^0"  '•■  -•«  tho  „t„e  man, 

"  No  matter  to  vou  linn,  t  . 
««"ins  to  toll  you  f°  '  ""'"'  "■  •-"'  '■"«■.  to  Mhat  r,„ 

V^rlj^T  »""-'--anically,a„d  fto  dwa.r  .U. 
■Jawing  himsolf  up  h,  ^'tl!.  7°"""""""  '""•sMily,  and 

"Ttaf3  neithor  hero  nA^,  '''' °"  ^^  •""»'■■"•■ 

rou'll  rue  it  the  u'Z  IZ  IT^T:":'  v'I  '  '="  ^°-'  " 
me  now?"  ^      ™™  '"> ''™  ■'— do  you  hear 

t<-n'°tt1irm«*°ma,rraS,t  L"°"""  """  '"'""'"'Ptaou,, 
was  something  i„  his  look  «,,  1  ^  "- "°*'^' """  '""" 
voke  farther.    He  would  fa  'It  Z  "'^  ""'  ""^  ">  P™' 

anO  tried  hard  to  force  a  tou^-h         ''■'°'"'  "'  "'"  "•"<"<'  "ff"-. 
»- yl:"  1  :Z  r  '""^  '»»-  >  -o  „eed  for  ,.  .o  quarrel  I    I 

''- "rjooTl?::' r;;,;7;;->'e;  «■-.  "en,y  Her. 
glared  leather  cap,  and  „!:  „,!f  ""■  ''"■'"■'  '»*  "it  his 

walked  away  With  ?ie  air  "/aUX  hero    °  ""''  """  "^ 


THE    IRISH    OIRL    IN    AMERICA. 


21 


Tho  yoiirifT  man  stood  eyeing  him  a  momont  with  a  look 
half  curious,  half  malicious,  then  humming  to  himself  "  The 
Rakes  of  Mallow"  ho  sauntered   away  through   tho  crowd 
lookmg  as  unconcerned  as  though  nothing  had  occurred  to 
ruffle  his  temper. 

'; Bessy!"  said  Mrs.  Walters,  whilst  her  young  attendant 
assisted  at  her  toilet,  "  who  is  the  young  man  to  whom  I  saw 
you  speaking  just  nowl" 

Bossy's  heart  sank  within  her  as  she  replied,  or  endeavored 
to  reply:  "He's  our  landlord's  son,  ma'am.  Master  Henry 
Herbert,  from  near  Ardflnnan,  ma'am  !-his  father  isn't  the 
head  landlord,  but  it's  to  him  we  pay  our  rent-he  has  a  long 
lease  of  the  property." 

"  Yes,  yes,  but  where  did  the  family  come  from  1-are  ther 
English  or  what  1" 

"Well,  I  b'lieve  they  are,  ma'am,  but  they're  a  good 
many  years  in  our  neighborhood.  Tho  old  gentleman  and 
lady  have  ne'er  a  child  but  Master  Henry." 

"  Humph  !"  said  Mrs.  Walters  thoughtfully,  and  the  slightest 
possible  frown  gathered  on  her  fair  brow,  "  Yes !  they  havo 
but  one  now  !~.they  had  more  once -ha!  ha  !-Bes8y 
Conway !  what  brings  this  young  fellow  to  America  ?-or  is  he 
gomg  there  V 

"HeBnya  heis,  ma'am." 
"  Yes— but  is  wealthy,  is  he  not  1" 

"Why,  yes,  ma'am!  the  people  say  in  our  place  that  he 
doesn  t  know  the  end  of  his  own  riches." 

What  ,s  he  about,  Bessy  V  And  the  lady  fixed  her  large  blue 
eyes  on  the  face  of  her  attendant  with  a  look  that  was  meant 
to  read  her  heart. 

'•■What  is  he  about,  Mrs.  Walters  V  stammered  Bessy  with  a 
mos   pamful  effort ;"  Lord  bless  me,  ma'am  dear !  how  can  /tell 

tll^qu^io^n r ''-""  '  "^^^'^^'^  "^'^  «°  ''^^  -  ^°  -^  ^- 


92 


CKSSr   CONWAY;    OR, 


;;^'dyouknowhowaafrofnff?" 

«  •         I  on   are  a  aoniJ   «••  i    «  'v' *"on  heavRi?  « 

>^'>y,  ma'am  dear!"  criorJ  n 
^o^nfry  knows  that.    NoZtr  vT^  ''^''■^^'  " «"'•«  the  whole 

"»»■•    But  ,vh„(.,  „,^  „„"/"r,'"'»  ""J-  belter  than  y„„°  „ 
"ell,  I  b'lieve  I  win  „,,        . 

«any  a  sore  turn  of  it"   !        """^  ">  '"'  ^""-'ick  bZ  ,Tl 
..reaaj-...  ■'-«".  So,  „„._i  ^  you'r:^^' ^l^ 

Bessy  was  sick   and 

'      '^''  "^  »"'-  yo"  «ni  let  If  .^'-'^..^--i,  but 

laiceita  course,  for 


THH    IRIsn    OIRL   I.V    AMERICA. 


38 

a  littlo  siiflerlng  now  m 

in  a  strange  climate."    ''^  "*'"'  ^°''  *  ^''''*'  ^«'»'  more  hereafter 
"  ^"'^  '^no^'^  best,  ma'am  "  aaU\  n« 

"but  °nZ:;i!:zz''Zif'Z:'f:''''  '^"^  "■•■""y. 

-».  like  ™po,f,  w,„  .ccC'd  t        '~"°"''  •'"'  "'°™  »■''» 
'■cknoM  at  such  a  itoe."  "'°  "'■°'  <=""  "'^'pe  »e.. 

"  Oh,  ma'am  dear  i  if  r  „»i    . 

her  '"l"^.c:::„'i;;^5:„°*f  V  -■« «..  w.„or,  to 

account."  «•     "ul  I  feel  „  ijttfe  „„,, 

"owiathat?" 

fl  tplac,  and,  „„  questioning  b^//""'^"'  '"S^ftT  In  .hi 
her  manner  and  her  loofa,  than  k  "''"""■•''■i,  more  from 
■"akin,  lovo  to  her."     ^      '"  ^''  "0'^.  that  ho  ha,  heen 

frank,  abrup"  wly ."'.  w'  ^'^^l"  '"  'aid  the  captain  in  hi, 
'n^^hatha™::^,^?::;,,-'  °"''"  -"«  >o-bX„ot' 

•=«:;hr;,t„t«;:!r:'*  ^-'  "•«h'<rth.,ou„,„.„ 

Of  her  own  station  !-why.  who,... 

•-•""vu  J5  ije?" 


24 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


11  f  I    II        I 


He  is  the  son 


"  You  would  hardly  guess  unless  I  told  you 
of  Wilson  Herbert " 

;  What !  he  that  swindled  my  father  out  of  business  m  Bir- 
Wal£sr  ''  ""'"''  ^""  "'"'     '''''  ^°"'^  ^^3^  «°'  ^d^J« 

The  father  took  refuge  in  Ireland  to  evade  the  fury  of  hi. 
injured  creditors,  and  with  his  ill-gotten  wealth  he  purchased 
a  long  lease  of  a  fine  property  in  Tipperary  which  he  holds  at 
a  merely  nominal  rent." 

"I  rejoice  to  hear  it,"  said  the  captain  with  his  English 
cooness;  "Ishall  come  on  him  one  of  these  days  when  he 
east  thinks  it^  He  shall  refund  our  share  of  his  plunder  i 
there's  law  in  England." 

<;  Of  that  hereafter,  William!"  said  his  wife  with  a  meanin. 

ta..e  the  trouble  of  prosecuting  Herbert,  "  but  the  immediate 
quest  on  IS  to  keep  our  littlo  Bessy  out  of  the  way  of  the  son." 
I  1  break  every  bone  in  his  body,"  said  the  phlegmatic 
captain,  'if  I  hear  of  him  making  any  advances  to  her." 

th.ri  y  ir"'  ^'"  ^°  ^"  '^"''  '''^'''  ^^""^"^^  ««  Jong  as 
there  are  other  means  at  our  disposal.    Indeed  I  would  ralher 

not  have  you  interfere  at  all,-that  is,  unless  it  is  absolut    y 
nec'^ssar}'."  "^^ijr 

tuZhf  ^""'Z^'^''''"  ^«*^^"«d  ^er  h"«band  with  imper- 
turbable good  humor,  "I  know  you  women  are  fond  of  ma- 

It,  hopmg  hat  you  will  let  me  know,  when  moral  force  fails  in 
regard  to  this  hang-dog  Herbert,  and  I  .ill  try  what  phvsicnl 
force  can  do  in  the  way  of  a  good  kickincr  -'  ' 

"Agreed!"  said  the  wife,  "leave  it  to  mev-for  the  present 
at  least,"  and  there  the  matter  rested. 

It  required  very  little  management'on  the  part  of  Mrs  Wal- 
ters to  keep  Bessy  from  seeing  much  of  Herbert  during  the 
passage.    Even  in   Liverpool  where  they  had  to  wait  some 


n.    He  is  the  son 

f  business  in  Bir- 
t  say  so,  Atldie 

low  ic  for  truth. 
'  the  fury  of  bis 
1th  he  purchased 
vhich  he  holds  at 

nth  his  English 
e  days  when  he 
f  his  plunder  if 

'■  with  a  meaninfi 
in !  would  never 
it  the  immediate 
ivay  of  the  son." 
the  phlegmatic 
?8  to  her." 
iam,  so  long  as 
I  would  rather 
it  is  absolutely 

id  with  impcr- 
re  fond  of  ma- 
fi,  as  you  desiro 
il  force  fails  in 
■  what  physical 

5r  the  present, 

't  of  Mrs.  Wal- 

Jrt  during  the 

to  wait  some 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IS   AMERICA. 


25 

WaUc.  and  hi,  vife  „era  stayit      '"'  '""^'  ''"'"''  Ca,„ai„ 

WSI.  ta  the  w  Jd  hecau/a  27"''''  ""°'''  """^^  """"'y 

a  ■odging.hou.e  life  this.    Ma  I  1  °  r'' '"  '"^  ""^"""^  '" 
opinion,  and  indeed  all  .L       7  "'"'  '""•»  <>'  'I"*  '^arao 

Ned  Fi„i«„„  and  A  /Mrr  "■'''- !'■;  t^'"  «"P"-  «' 
".rough  and  would  wa'er  a  trifl»'-l    ,  ,  ^'^'''''  P"'  "" 

"  She's  a  lirst  and  se^™^  "  "'''™''  '""■  <■"»>'• 

I  know  What's  rhe,      tht  17,'?'  "^  °™''  ^"'^  "«'  " '"'^ 
-r  to  give  the  cold   ho^er  " t  .r    /'  '°'^"''  "^  ^>l.h 
-"y  word  for  it,  you're  a,l  b  a^^in' her  „  fh  °"°'shbor,_tak„ 
"  Thaf 'q  «,»  ^„«-       .         "^*"'"  "PI  m  the  wronT." 

a..-aylt,r!r" :?  ::'i^f :  *f™>  ^^y  ■•  ■■  Bos.y  „., 

»eheh-e.e  that  Te  left  ralbf;    T'"'  """'   "^o"'"  »»'«> 
"  Well  then  T  LV        .        '""'' ''"  »'  ''ome," 

8i.I,  and  nIkV:  : '?',^^/?'-,  »  '"-hearted,  decent 
admiration  that  sot  Alty's  "heek!  i^  ,";'=''"  ™'*  »  'ook  of 
doa„ilIt„mbutyou'roaer„A      ,^*    '•    """"  I  ™yn't 

"  We're  entirel/ohh^ed  to  v  M™  """  ""^  >-°"-" 
Murphy  With  a  look  „  °:rea°  oom'nf  "  ^""=''"'"  '"■"  '*"• 
Po^ed  to  have  a  nice  LZTlTJ' "''''''''•  ""  »<"»  "■"  »"P- 
-mcthing  worth  whlletri  i  '^  'e.i'f-f  ™-  -<"  ««' 
nearArdannan.  "  We're  entirety,,  I  "'™''"'  '"""'•■"1 
opinion  in  regard  to  Ally     r't 'f ' '7™  f"  >°- Bood 

'".ouldn't  say  What  I'm  gof„.,'";„,T,?  ■''■''   '^'■'"'   ' 
anyhow,  so  I  will  say  illvon  hm'^',  ""  ™™S  '■"'"nds. 

Ally  Murphy,  f„r  .Lro  s'h"  t:dsT  !""■'' '"^  -"-"  f- 
tongue  on  father  or  mother  or  .  ""'"'  ""■"<«'   ""r 

heart."  ""■  "  "orer  gave  either  of  „=  ,  .„,. 


BESSY    CONWAY;     OR, 

her  own  bird  the  whitest '''  ^  ""'^^  '^'^^  ^^'""^^ 

"Has  ^nyJ;\T:jZ:r  ZtZ'sL7''''''  "''' 
got  in  1"  y^  bneehan  since  we 

"whv  f«  1  """"'^^^'^s  the  saying  is,  took  the  world  easv 

water  .ide.  Ha!  hi"  ha  Lft  t.°°T; '1™ "''°™  "^"'  '"« 
Ws  eye,  open,  anyhow'  h:L;\'''°*°'  "'^'  '"'^^^  "«' 
she  had  a  son  in  Amerka  ,L  ,w  I  »''' """"an  tell  that 
home,  and  he  think? Zv  """*"  ™'«  "  ""le  place  at 
her  hie  a  leechX  set?"        '°"''""""  "^  ''"-'"'  '"*  '» 

.or  Panrs  attention  t^'^ornrshVeSr  "'^  ""^  '"°«- 

Mr!;;!':!;!*:;  c^  ^'^^'°  '"^'p«°'  =-'-".»»* 

a  flushed  eheerand  »  ^  """^  ""  ""'"  '°  ""  "'"> 

"onsual  With  her  SI,  waTawTo"- "™'  "T™"  ™^ 
but  seeing  that  the  sir]  Ivoided  ^  '""'"7  """"  "  ""'°'". 
I-erasmu^ch  as  p.siW  T  t^oult  ^ "h,  f  ""k '™^ '"" 
it  pass  unnoticed  "  Could  it  he.!,,  ."u  °  '"'"""'  '°  '«' 
tors,  "that  she  ^honM  v     "'"' P"'"''''."  bought  Mrs.  Wal- 

hardly  let  her  out  "f  "  v  ..  t    'f ' '■°''  """'  ^"=-1  ""• 
•  "'■'  °'  "y  »'8ht,  and  certainly  not  ont  of  the 


^■%> 


THE    IRISH   GIRL    IN   AMERICA.  27 

house  since   we  have  been   hAro      Tf   • 

mused-" .„.y  indeed.'  ^'  ''  "'^^  strange"-she 

:f:.=nr?::.:;~rrrr-;t£ 

ence  and  self-possession.     On  inquiry  she  learned  iZ  V  7  . 
come  to  the  house  the  day  before  ^'  ^"  ^'"'^ 

» hats  wrong  now,  Addie?" 
"  Why,  that  Herbert,  to  be  snre-what  do  you  think  b„.  r 
«awh,m  at  dinner  here  in  the  hote.-that  feirw  has  thtl 
puae^ce  Of  a  certain  individual  who.  I  do  rt'lLt'T; 

"  What  sort  of  a  fellow  is  he  V' 

oapSn'i:ir.i:n.tt-  li"  z""'  °'  =■«'  -"'"•  -^ «- 

Bessy  packing-that's  the  plan  ">  ^'"''  '""^ 

"  That  won't  do  for  me."  replied  the  lady,  "  I  exnect  to  fi    , 

Bossy  a  very  useful  servant,  and  I  should  be  sorry  to  L'  T 
so  soon.    Moreovpr    T  ha^..  *  i        ,  ^  *°  ^^^^  h©'' 

friends,  anil  ealnot  bu,  r     .        '"■  '"""  '■='•  ''<>">°  ""^ 

"  Allo».,l,„  Altogether,  you  see,  William " 

good  h  adtwir  '"■  ^''" '  ^™  ""^  "  S"""  "-rt  and  a 

l»o>c  out  for  hiL  ^tryrllr' ^'f  e-"™»"  '»  me-/.,. 


him,  take  my  word  for 


it!' 


'  """ami    1  know  you  wiU  when 


you  say  it. 


28 


BESSY    CONWAY;     OR, 


( 


But  the  safest  way  would  ho  ««f  *    i. 

Md  direct  the  peopUtbiTtlJ  ""'  *°  «"  '°  «"'  °ffl™ 

«»»  or  that  one     I    .heTe,loJ.        '  ?'"'"«''-""='""">  ""« 
"«,  he  sure  he  hastZl  I  ^  """"  '»  '""P  Bessy  i„ 

B-t  make  yo  r '^  "e"       .fttr^t"''^  "' "'^  ^'"•'^* 
don.  .eep  Herhert  at  aX^'  .-rncr:  trr,,:!:""  '^  "  ^ 

ontr^r''--''-^°-«->..-"l.esaM„„„„r, 

B^:"d„r:tair:"n3'i.rx:"  -r"" '°  -^ 

as  she  expected,  she  went  ouron  th    >  ■  ,^    "     '■""™  "'  =°«" 
the  hannister,  saw  the  g,"    o"  a  a  dlnl,^'  '"f  "'*'■""  °"^ 
conversatien,  as  it  appeared  to  her       fh  7"    T  '"  ^™'« 
angry  hlood  rushed  to  the  ladv',  Vh    t     T''"^"'-    '"'><' 
to  Bessy  was  terribly    hafcen    v      !     ' """  '""'  <=™«denoe 
T-ere  was  no  shLow'^oftts":     J't  't^  'T'^' 
course  with  Herbert    Rf^nT^K^      "w  lor  this  continued  inter, 
disgracef,,,.    She      kef/  ^:  "f.  '"'""""  «"'  »»" 
that  but  a  day  or  twoltTwhlr"   „  ,    ■"  '^'""'  '""''  '"^ 
P'-d  in  a  gir,  who  cou.d  accrs'hrdt'r"''  *""•  "^  '»  ^« 

What  was  to  be  done  ?  The  idn-,  «f  ,"v 
case  of  a  public  house  was  rennJn.  !  ?  ,"^  °"'  ""  '^^  '^^^'^ 
t.-Ho«s  notions  of  reflnll^erarrLtT"^^^^^ 
company  was  still  worse.  AH  at  onl  T  '^  '"  ^"*^^ 
Bessy  had  her  foot  on  the  en  n^  '  "  ^""^^'^"^^  *^^' 
anxious  to  ,o  up.  whil!"  2b  'l.  d  ^^  "j  -evidently 
rested  on  ihe  bannister  and  iZ  T  ^  "'^  ^'^'^"^  ^^^^ 

tnou,h  in  suppresse      ;!  J    Btsr"".''  "'  ^"^^^'"^°^'^' 

excited,  and  her  mistress  TmieATJ'  Z        ""''''  ^''''  ^"'"'^ 
«A]f .  <(T  "'^'•iiths  sm.ied  pleasantly  as  she  st?^  tr.  i, 

«elf .     T  was  not  mistaken  in  her  after  all     u         T        ^'' 
I  feared.    I  will  nn  .?«.  1  '  '*  '^  "^*  so  bad  as 


THE    IRISH   GIRL   IS  AMERICA. 


29 

l"m  a  word  of  explanation  ZllT    ,        """'""^  ™'"='"«'fe 
the  object  he  ha,U„  vi   "  he  at  tol*    '"  "*>'  °"s'"  "^feat 
"Bad  manne,^  to  you  don     !  *     8™mWecl  out: 

«>.ove  there  that  I  wa'nt  k  Z  ^".h  ?■'  tI^  ""  ""^ '""' «'" 
further  parley  b„t  „„„„j,^  ™  ^'"■^  Jl'on  waited  for  no 
could  propel  itself.  "*"  ="  '"»  mmhapen  frame 

"  Who  the  mischief  ia  thit  '■>.»  i, 

tte  discomfited  waite      »  'anJtLr^r  '*^''  '""°'''"  -« 
moment,    "if  h^  „,„j    J  ^°°*^;  who  was  passing  u  the 

„  "  let  him  60,..  said  the  other  Xj.'!  ""w  "'  ""^  •'" 

He  sent  me  for  him  there  awhil.      '         ^''"™  '"""''  l'™- 

the  bar-room.    If,  all  right  "         "«"'  """  '"ey  had  a  talk  in 

■aSrb:id"i::^"o:"hifs;L?"°''r'-"--"»-''-k 

was  about.  ''  shoulder,  and  asked  him  what  he 

put  it  off  witli  a  laugh.  ^  ^""^  ^"^^^^3^>  I^e  tried  to 

"  You're  a  second  Paul  Prv  »  »  •  j  i, 
Tl-re's  no  «uch  thh^  al  eTcap,"!  ^l'  "  '^^"  ^^"^  ^^  -«  ■' 
yours!     Good-bye,  Belsy!  I^  f^'  '""  ^^^"  ^^^  ^' 
crossing  «,e  herring-pond."  ''^  ^^"  ^°  ^'«"  after 

"Come  along  down  hero"'  said  Pn  i  • 
authority  that  Bessy  involuntar  Iv  r  '"  '"'^  ^  *«"«  of 

other  would  take  it      '"'"^"'^^^'^^^  ^^^gered  to  hear  how  the 


80 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


"Why,  don't  be  foolish,  man?  why  wouldn't  T  h«  y. 
well  as  another  1"  ^  woman  t  I  be  here  as 

"  I  know  well  what  brings  vou  "  siiri  ih^^        , ,     , 
up  askance  at  the  latter  wi^ihr'  "'^'^"'^  ^""^'"^ 

"  Dn  T  ;n^     A  o  i    :  ,  ^^^^^Ser,  you  make  orer  free  !" 
1^0  I,  indeed  ?  ha !  ha !  ha !— if  you  don'^  i«f  n 

Visitor  ,,a  r..,y\j;ir'St      t"'a  I?  r^T"": 
Choose  to  ten.    Ma,.e  H.  ™a„i.a  «.o  C  is' 0.^^11  J^" 


dn'fc  I  be  here  as 

anchback  looking 
t>n  of  a  malignant 
ss  here,  and  only 
aok    for   lodging 

•bert  when   they 
all,  "  well,  really, 
)Ver  free !" 
et  Bessy  Conway 
r  know  what's  in 
keep  out  of  my 
e  color  of  your 
3  to  the  wise  is 
in  the  Garrick, 
iiard  for  you  to 
eep  from  stoop- 
irself!" 

lis  troublesome 
id  then  turned 
back  made  his 
th  amwsed  and 
lir  of  authority 
iliments, 
ned  on  a  tablo 
?an  and  Widow 
culiar  to  each. 
St  old  Dolly's 
e  possessed  to 
fate. 

,  I  can't  get  it 

ilip  than  you 

or  something 


■A- 


THE  reisn  oim.  in-  America.  jl 

(tot  ™y,  an'  sure  if  ho  h  y<,„  „ecd„'t  ftar  to  -ell  n,„    •,. 
«h,ns  but  what  his  father  done  before  him  »  ""-'^  "<>- 

*eepi„,  it  fr„„;„„,  ..^l^;  ,  j;,'-  --'-,.,<,  r  have  i„ 

«e=,  of  the  whole  perlon  7JyT        '"°"*'  ""''  "  >■«"<■»'- 
<rf  the  anxious  nmher     She  sh'l  T  T""^  *'  ^""P  »^^» 

help  me,  anyhow  -»  ^  "^"'^  *^  '^^  *«^  ^^^o^'-    God 

p  "•:  t.  r  nr  ;:?„^!:~a:r  ?  -r  - 

s«lf  injured.  ^  ""'  °^  ^  '"an  who  felt  him- 

"I'll  teli  you  what  it  is  now  Mrs   Rh»«i, 
you  donn  believe  what  I  say-!!.'  ^^"'  "'^^"^•'  «'»^e 

"  ^"^  ^faat  is  that,  astore  ?"  asked  th^  «m     ' 
and  with  a  half  stupified  air-  '  sure  ^      f. 7""""  '"'^^°^^' 
tould  me  about  Philip  i"        '  '  ""^"^'^  ^^^^^^^  ^^^t  you 

^e:;  r^H;::^^^  fs:~t-^  ^^"^  ^^^- - 

his  heart  at  the  moment,'"  f  l^vou  tLt'r  T  '""»^"  '^ 
once-some  yea,^  ago-^ut  thaf  TV  ^"«^  ^^^^  «on 
now.    I  declare  I  wish  I  hadr  '^   •.      "°''  "^^'^^'"^    ^^  ^^^  ^ 
Purty  bother  I  have  ^th  yo„r  1  fT;^d  "'''""  ''""'  ^^^    ^*« 
"  The  Lord  forgive  n,.  M'Cn^i '"1  ^'"':^"" '  '"^^'^  ^t  now  7" 
ne  matterca  to  himself. 


32 


BFTSg^-   COXWAY,-     OR, 


■s>>  free  as  I  do— '  ^^'^  "'"'  ^^^'  '  ^'O^^dn't  i^.ako 

"  Well !  feelin'  here  or  fwHn'  therft  T  ,7^,.^ 
word  more  about  that  aon  of  ya    "'  ,    i         ''"''"'  "^  ^'"^''  ^ 
anyhow  1-when  we  get  to  New  Yn,7        I'  "'  '^''^""'  «^^' 
to  see  about  him  f"  '^'  ""^^^^  ^'^  ^^  ^^^h  you 

"God  reward  you,  honest  man  f"  sobbed  th^  oM 
she  wiped  her  eve<i  wIM,  fi,  soooea  the  old  womon  as 

talk..,'  to  aboard  the  boat-he  -lasn,  ,         f        .'*"  ^'^ 
one  thaf»  lower  than  himaell^.  "'  """  '""^  ""J' 

"Barrln'  that  cirl  from    AvAfir.^^      ■« 
thehunchbac.wfthaXstl"""-''''"^  ^^"^^^^''  ^'^ 

keep  'her  on   of  ;,'  olJ^T"  ""  '''  '''''  *^«  ^^"-"  ^-«od 
likely  little  bodv    an"'^'"^^ 

father  an'  moS.  "chird'tdT;;  '  '.f '  ''''  '  ^^^^ 
what's  good.    ButsureTw  has  nothing  in  her  barrin' 

she  added.  ^"  ^ ""''''  *^'^^  ^^  "»«  dike's  of  ^i.,- ," 

Wisha.  then,  Paul,  it's  not  safe  for  him  to  h^  in  ^ 
for,  give  the  devil  his  due !  he's  a  cleL  17       I  ''  '''"^'' 

He  has  a  face  on  him  that  'ifdeceive  a  Sa!:il^^  ^^  '^^''  «^- 

Hes  passable,"  said  Pani  wui, 
^•11      ,  '  ■»•  aui  With  a  surlv  nor?    "i».,*  *i    i- 

neither  here  nor  fherp    Mtn^  t>        ,       .    ^        '      ''"*  ^^^at  s 
"n      J  ^»ere— Jittle  Bessy's  safe  enough  " 

How  do  you  know  that,  Paul  r  ^  '=^" 

'^r2l"T/r-\^T  '"-'''  ''''''  ^-^  that's  enough 
«ranny.      And  again  the  little  man  nodded  hut  ihi.  +•         f "' 

"..«bt.o,.en,an,.re;4::t::r;LTzt;^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


THE    IRIsn   GIRL   IS   AMERICA. 


33 


has  a  care    over    the 


inno- 


tbem  that's  well   inclined  an' 
cent !" 

Here  the  door  was  opened  fluddenly,and  incamea  bi^  burly 
man,  with  a  fa.r  complexion,  and  a  good-natured,  open  coun 
tenanee.     He  accosted  Pam  with  aloud  laugh.  4  opos    o 
nothing,  It  would  seem,  and  a  thump  of  his  bi^  ZIZ  ^ 

''Whit       ,   /  "^^  *"^'  *^  '•"^  '^«  ^«^'^*«d  part. 
Why  then    bad  manners  to  you  for  a  spr ismun  r- cvied 
Ned  Finigan.  for  he  it  was.  "  is  it  here  you  are,  an'  me  huntTn 
you  up  and  down  this  hour  back  1    I  L  the  ;ork  you  re  at  • 
--  hrowing  a  humorous  glance  at  the  old  woman-"  well  T  •,'« 

Z  "Itm'l  hrmr^"'  '-'-  ^  -^^  -P--  -^  -J 
"We're  as  God  made  us,"  said  Paul  graffly;  "was  that  vonr 

an'  wi  h  «":'■' 8»»«,  too!  isn't  it,  g^„„y  ,  ,it.,e„,ore, 

face    nL^r  "^ ',"<'•"''■»»*  t>«<=»«=o  I  praised  hin,  to  hi 
ftce-next  l„ne  I'll  say  he',  ug,y-I  h<,p„  .^^  „,„  p,^^, 

"  What  did  you  want  with  me  r 

litl"?-'  ^I'^f  • ""'  ''"  '""  J""-    »i4  yo"  ««  that  pnrtv 
imk  fa.r.ha,red  «,Ilee„  that's  „aitto'  on  Captain  Walw 

"  I  did— you  mean  Bessy  Conway  " 

«'s  !il" ""  ""-^*"'  ='"'« ^ «»»'»  «'  """O  fy  the  moth- 
"  I'm  glad  to  hear  it" 
"  Why  so.  aroon  1" 


34 


BESSY   con-way;    OR, 


"  Don't  be  callin'  hard  names  "  sa.\l  Pn«i     uu  ,. 
"  he'«  a  gentleman,  son.  that  chip-  '  *""  '""^- 

in  his  body,  so  I  would  '"  ^'^^  ^<*"^ 

w.;i.  »tcr»:7„:ta'''  '""■  "-•  ^°"'"  ■"•■■■  -'"  "">»  ^au. 

rl,v*„  1       1  ^  '^'^  ^'^^^*^''  t'^o  well  to  mv  cost-hp'.  , 

yo?i-if  you  knoTv  it !"  ^'^'^'^  ^'■°°' 

"  Maybe  I  do,  maybe  I  don't  "  soiri  i>o«i  •  •  ,  . 
form  to  its  atm^t iLht  "but  Xt  """"^  '""  *""■"""' 
come  yet  to  make  it  Wn  B^t  S^tf  ^  ""'  "'"  """'  ''"'' 
l^od  Fi„i,a„.  .„d  „ai,  "mJrVrLaM  T^f  J'"  ''f' 
mt  if  you  catch  him  makin'  too  free  tth~E«  r?  '"° 
no,.,  you're  a  good  soldier?"  he  addTd  7'* . ''"'^''> '  '  ""Po. 
in  tho  other's  face     "  T  l,„.  '  ''"*'"S  Mrnestly  up 

carries  arms  aW  him  '     '   '°"  ""'  '"  ''"  """««'  *"  >"' 

"  What  if  he  does  V'  cripd  fiia  v 
you,  I'd  think  as  little  of  what  ho  colT"      ""''■    "  '  ''" 
I.e  was  a  hiock  of  .ho  le  tach  ,    t  ifm""'  °";  ""'  "^  '' 
why,  man,  there  pever  was  cue  of  il.  '•'  ^''°''  """'■""■ 

Oiiver  Cromwei,  tit  haZtTo    e       ofXTL^^  ■""■"  "'• 

eve  J:„e  heard  ^t'L^"'""*''  »"'^'>-  '-''*^.  '  "•"".'■t 

an'  a'rorehear^r:  ':r„e  tflr  \™1«'"^  "T'.'j^"'  """■■"'^- 
"iuieioDoot.    I  see  you  hardly  b'Ueve  m» 


with  keen  honj — 

ijat  girl  wrong" — 
'nched  his  br;uvnj 
' — hut  as  iiro  ns 
break  every  bono 

"  said  little  Paul 

cas  a  geutleraans 
.  my  cost— he'«  a 
1  the  monoy  and 
sk  you  who  the 
■^  to  hear  iVoui 

ling  his  dvvarflsj) 
o,  tho  time  isn't 
^^fitch  Iiim  irell, 
"ail  him  on  tho 
Bessy.  I  hopo, 
^g  earnestly  up 
hinkin'  that  lad 


THE    inrSH   GIRL    ly    AMERICA.  35 

but  tJierev,  not  a  word  o'  lie  in  what  T  f«7i  « 
man,  Jerry  F.hy  by  name-b;  the  same  token T'         "'  '''' 
I'.iniily-name  with  mv  mnfi,    .  !  "  "^^"'^  '^  ^"  «'<» 

less  than  ny  great  Z^       T"''''-'^'^'  ^'"^^  ""-^'^  ^«''  "o 
^^t  Pan,,  th  'n^o  1  Dot^^u    r  /"'  ""''  '""^^'^  «"' 

to  receive  the  homlg?:/ blltditr  ''  '  "^"  '"''      ^^^^^ 

or  pfrentdrnL"'"'  "^"^  '''''-'  "^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^vith  real 
Crhfrn."'^'"'  "^"^  ^^^^  «^^^^'^'  "'  ^^P«  you'll  never 

w:^^:t^t:^a;r;;:::^^^^^^ 

8ome  other  time  will  do  as  well  Ked »     xv«mi    n  , 
early  start  of  it  the  morrow  1-    Tn  "  *""  ^'^^«  «» 

bade  tho  other,  good  nir  L    J^"''T''  ''  ""^  ^'°*'  ^^^ 
enough  to  talk.  ^    '  '^'"^'•^'"g  that  they'd  have  time 


rcely,  « I  tell 
is  an'  all,  as  if 
good  soldier? 
ce  the  days  of 
Did  you  ever 
an  Castie  from 

careless  shake 


'hy,  I  thoufiht 
hero  entirely, 
lly  b'lieve  me.. 


# 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  BTOBM 


"  Didn't  I  send  him  off  purty  quick  that  day,  captain  1"  said 
Paul  to  Captain  Walters  when,  the  bustle  of  departure  being 
over,  and  the  Mersey  cleared,  that  frentleman  had  time  to 
attend  to  private  matters,  ♦'  I'm  thinkin'  I  soon  cleared  the 
stairs  of  him." 

"  You're  a  brick,  Paul !"  said  the  captain  with  a  good- 
humored  smile  ;  "  my  wife,  who  overheard  all  that  passed,  has 
a  high  opinion  of  you  ever  since," 

"  Of  me,  your  honor !"  said  Paul  with  becoming  modesty, 
"  why  the  lady  is  very  good  to  think  of  me  at  all— it'a  what  I 
couldn't  expect," 

"  But  tell  me  this,  Paul,  if  it  be  a  fair  question  :  what  hold 
have  you  on  this  individual — my  wife  says  you  seem  to  have 
him  entirely  under  control," 

"  Well!  the  question  is  fair  enough,  your  honor,"'  said  Paul 
assuming  a  very  innocent  look,  "  but  I'd  rather  not  answer 
it  at  this  time,  for  a  little  reason  I  have.  No  offence  I  hope, 
captain  V* 

"  Oh !  not  the  slightest,  my  good  fellow  !  on  second  thoughts, 
I*m  better  pleased  noi  to  hear  it.  Secrets  are  heavy  loads  to 
carry,  and  I  have  no  notion  of  troubling  myself  with  other 
people's  burdens.  Only  mind  you  keep  a  sharp  look-out,  as 
I  will  myself,  and  I  think  the  two  of  us  will  certainly  be  a  match 
for  your  friend's  cunning. ' 

"  There's  another  on  the  watch  now,  captain,  so  tho  deuce  is 
in  it  if  Herbert  plays  any  pranks  here." 


THE    IRISH   GIRL    IS   AMERICA, 


8T 


10  tho  deuce  is 


"  Who  is  tliP  other,  pray  1" 

d»v  fe\T'"^'  '  ■"""  '""  °"«'"  "• '"  "l-'"  '0  '='<''^'  «  fair  any 
^y,  .f  Im  courage  i,  e,„„|  ,„  ,,i,  ,i™.    He',  tho  biggo.t  Za 

.oUee^'   ^°"^  '■°"°''  ""*•  "  •""""  -'«"°"  «f   *:  mul 

h  ",?"""?.  *'»  ""  ""P"""  'aughod  hoartily.    "  Truly  "  »al,I 
Won     ;   ""tr""^"'  °'  ^""  ^'"'  ""■ '-  -o  lack  Of  to  0 

nnd  tht  V      ' .        ^  '  ""5'  Baf.ly  leavo  Bom  to  youmelf 

" 'B««l  you  may,  captain,  'deed  you  may  sir  l-».'11  h„  ,1, 
busme,,,  Nod  an'  I-thaf,  Nod  FinLn,  sir'."  '"  *°  ""' 

.  J  r  'Z'""  r-  '"""*  °™"">«.°-"  a  clear,  bright  oven. 

Soma  were  ,o„„gi„g  ,,„  „„,  '.^Jj  J,^  ^  '2"  ^ -"-  J™- 
settees  placed  in  a  doiil.i«  .^  /  ""  "»o  ireshly-^  „  nted 
one  ™  ieaning  o,;.  ttt^i Uo.r^lot;!!"  „"^t ' 

tliat  l.melymanTom°„     "^    ;    °'"'""™» '« thinking. 
Koaringi    Why  did  h  \  "    ?""'"™°'  ""  °'  ««>"«''>»a„ly 

down  at  once  the  ir    '™r'"^"  ""  '""•«  impelled  to  break 

quaintance  Of  tholTth  I^r  :!  """^  """  "»"»  "'»  "■>- 
for  some  weeks  „  least!  W.T-,  ^^  """  """"'^  '"  "»»"'=""« 
friend,,  and  native  a  'd,  orZ  TT"'^''''''''"'^''^''' 
regarding  his  sucoesa  i„  tho  IWW  ,7  '"""  ""^  ^'"""» 
ti.at  hung  over  hi™  fronlVe'Lt  JoTZAh:  pa^^  "'"*°" 

eltoeyea  ver^o  visible  ri!™"'.^.  ">;<-»  '-"»  "-d  and 
'"■  " "  '"^  "»  "10  aeck  where  ho  stood 


38 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


on  the  companion-ladder  eyeing  the  soli  ary  watchor  witl)  a 
grin  half  humorous  half  malicious.  It  was  like  a  cat  watching 
a  mouse  of  whose  final  capture  she  was  sufficiently  certain" 
After  gazing  a  few  moments  with  that  sort  of  basilisk  expres- 
sion which  must  have  fascinated  the  other  had  he  turned  towards 
him,  the  head  disappeared,  its  owner  being  doubtless  satisfied 
with  his  observation. 

Bu:  still  the  young  man  stirred  not.  His  eyes  were  fixed  in 
deep  thought,  and  gradually  a  darker  expression  overspread 
his  features,  and  his  brows  contracted  with  an  angry  frown. 

"  What  a  fool  they  take  me    for!"   he  said"  within  him- 
self,   "to    think    that    I-I_Henry    Herbert-am    leaving 
friends  and  country  to  follow  a  smooth-faced   country  girl 
across  the  ocean !    Her  own  conceit  led  her  into  that  notion 
when  she  saw  me  on  board,  and,  of  course,  I  didnt  put  her 
ofF  the  scent.     Well !  I  believe  I  have  a  fancy  for  the  girl,  but 
nothing  like  what  she  and  others  seem  to  suppose.    But  then 
that  abominable  hunchback— to  think  of  him  starting  up  as  if 
the  Old  Boy  sent  him  on  purpose  to  torment  me,  just  when  I 
thought  I  was  rid  of  him  anyhow.    He  haunts  me  like  a  ghost 
—go  where  I  will,  I  cannot  shake  him  off.    Is  it  fate— or— 
or  what  1    But  why  does  he  follow  me  in  this  way  ?  what  gain 
would  my  exposure  be  tx)  him  1    No  matter  how  it  is,  I  must 
only  put  a  bold  face  on  the  matter,  and  keep  him  off  the  track 
the  best  way  I  can— ha !  ha!  let  him  follow  his  cursed  nose, 
and  that  will  do  for  the  present!  raise  your  head  now,  Henry 
Herbert,  like  a  man !  and  drive  dull  care  away—sorrow's  time 
enough  when  it  comes,  my  boy !" 

By  the  time  Herbert  had  reached  this  conclusion  the  weather 
had  undergone  a  remarkable  change.  Dark  ma&ses  of  clouds 
were  gathering  around  the  setting  sun,  and  the  billows  were 
heaving  with  sudden  and  strong  commotion.  All  at  once  the 
seamen  were  observed  moving  hither  and  thither  with  in- 
creased activity,  and  the  deep  voices  of  the  officers  were  heard 
fore  and  aft  givin"  orders ; 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   INT   AMERICA. 


39 


''  Reef  the  top-sail  there  !"— "  Haul  in  the  lanyards !" 

The  passengers  on  deck  were  all  more  or  less  alarmed  by 
the  sudden  change  in  the  weather  and  the  corresponding 
movements  amongst  the  crew.  Captain  Walters  came  himself; 
too,  and  spoke  in  nautical  phrase  to  the  man  at  the  wheel,  a 
sturdy  mariner  of  mature  years. 

"  Tack  about,"  said  he,  "  and  keep  to  windward— look  out 
for  the  Irish  coast !" 

"Ay,  ay,  sir!"  The  seaman's  heavy  features  were  stirred 
by  no  emotion,  but  hard  and  fast  ho  turned  the  wheel,  as  be- 
neath his  guiding  hand  the  vessel  slowly  turned  her  head,  and 
she  reeled  like  a  drunken  man  as  the  rising  breeze  shook  her 
shrouds  and  bent  her  taper  spars.  The  helmsman  looked  ui. 
at  the  darkening  sky  whence  the  sun  had  long  since  vanished 
and  he  smiled  grimly  at  the  captain  who  was  watchincr  his  face' 

"No  sleep  to-night,   BilH"    said    the    captain    in    a    low 
voice. 

"Mayhap  more  than  we  oargain  for,"  was  the  curt  and 
gloomy  reply.    The  captain  nodded  and  turned  away  quickly 
He  was  instantly  beset  by  an  anxious  crowd  of  the  passengers 
chiefly  of  the  gentler  sex.  ' 

"Good  heavens.  Captain  Walters!  is  there  any  danger?" 

"  Dear  me,  captain  !  are  we  going  to  have  a  storm  7" 

"  Only  a  squall,  madam !  only  a  squall." 

"  But  is  there  any  danger  1" 

"  I  hope  not— be  so  good  as  to  let  me  pass,  ladies!" 

*'  But  what  are  we  to  do  1" 

"Keep  quiet— thatr is  all." 

Captain  Walters  was  a  good-natured  man  and  a  gentleman 
moreover,  but  to  be  thus  hemmed  in  at  such  a  moment  and 
besieged  with  what  he  considered  idle  questions  was  more 
than  flesh  and  blood  could  bear.  So  he  began  to  elbow  one 
out  of  his  way  here  and  another  there,  and  at  last  succeeded 
in  making  his  retreat  to  the  companion-ladder,  mutterin- 
ueiwccii  h:s  teeth  ;  "^ 


40 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"Those  good  old  monks  were  about  right  after  all.    Plague 
on  them  for  women !"  ^«*K"e 

When  the  captain  had  done  all  that  he  could  to  provide  for 

•  Sowf  ;'  ?:  T"^'  ""  ^*°™  '^^'■'^"-^  ^o  -ge^tht  a 
violence,  he  stole  for  a  moment  from  his  arduous  duties  to  see 

how  h,s  w,fe  was  affected  by  the  threatening  aspect  of  afla  rs 

He  found  her  pale,  calm  and  collected,  sitting,  or  tryinHo 

s.t,  by  a  table  in  their  little  cabin,  whilst  Bessy  Conwlykn^t 

'wT7;j"'  ^'^  '^^'^  "'°"'  ^"^  ^^"^  g^-t  fervor. 
,n,-i         v    f '?'  ""^  ^^^'-^  '""'^  ^^^  ^^Ptain  with  a  forced 
wn  ''<«':  •"\f"^'^'^  hand  and  pressed  it  between  hi' 

dl  t  J    T  I  '  '  '""^  ""'''''  ^'^'^^  sot-all  of  a  sud. 

aen,  too.    I  hope  you're  not  frightened !" 

"Well  no,   not  exactly  frightened,  William,  but~but-a 
storm  IS  always  awful."  "ui—a 

"  Yes,  yes,  but  my  little  wife  has  seen  the  Garrick  weather 
wo.e  storms  than  this  is-yet.  If  we  can  only  keep  c'aoT 
that  dreary  Irish  coast  till  ihe  gale  has  spent  its  fury  I  have 
no  fears  for  the  rest.  The  Garrick  is  strong  enough  for  a"; 
breeze,  if  she  have  but  sea-room.  Keep  up  your  heart  my 
precious  one !  for  as  yet  there  is  no  immediafe  danger"   '  ^ 

Will  am  -V/"'  ?7"V'  '"'^  '^'  ""'''  "^  ^  ^^^  ''^^'  "  but  oh  I 
;"Z'  T  f.'T^  '°^^  ^'^^-'^  ^  could-but  I  cannot—" 
Why,  I  think  you  have  no  need  to  trouble  yourself  Addie  " 

wm  d^  rsrof  ^  '"^  ^*'^"^^'  ^'  '^"»"^^"^'  "^^^^i 

Wh   r    ^  l^  ^"""'^  ^PP^^'"'  *°  ^«  playing  enou^rh  for 

boU.  Good  bye  I  sweetheart,  I  will  come  againL  s'oon  as  Fca^" 

For  God's  sake,  do,  William  !-I  am  not  afraid  but  oh  "  t 

18  a  fearful  storm !"  '        °^ '  '' 

''-Can't  you  go  join  the  other  ladies  for  company  "J" 

Oh  no !  no !    I  am  better  alone-their  company  would  but 

make  me  worse  !-but  go,  William,  go !  let  me  not  detat  you 

a  moment.    Oh  God !  what  a  tempest !"  she  cried,  as  the  door 

'tZLZ^-  '"^'^"'  ^^^  -eshipplungek  do.;!! 


THE    IRISH    GIRL   IN    AMERICA. 


41 


tor  all.    Plague 


Say  your  prayers,  ma'am  dear!"  said  Bessy,  whoso  palo 
cheek  and  quivering  lip  testified  her  emotion  though  she  tried 
to  appear  composed;  "say  your  prayers-God  uill  hear 
them  Mrs.  Walters  involuntarily  sank  on  her  knees  and 
buried  her  face  in  her  hands. 

The  ladies'  cabin  was  by  this  time  a  scene  of  wild  confusion 
Some  Tv-ere  crying  and  wringing  their  hands,  .ome  faintin<^ 
away  w,th  terror,  others  endeavoring  to  console  and  encoura^r; 
others^  hko  Bessy  Conway,  kneeling  in  fervent  supplication^to 
the   throne  of  Mercy.    Husbands  and  fathers  and   brothers 

T.^  T'  T'  ''^'^'''^  ^'■y^"^  *°  ^^^P  "P  t^«  f^il'ng  spirits 
of  their  female  relatives,  others  moodily  pondering  on  the  pro- 
bable termination  of  the  scene. 

The  sea  was  raging  mountains  high,  and  the  hatches  were 
nailed  down  by  the  captain's  orders  to  protect  all  below  from 
the  ravages  of  the  angry  waters  which  ever  and  anon  came 

IZZfl  T'  '-'"  ^''^  ^''"^  ''''''''''  ^^^y-    Amid  the  wild 

doloMK   I-  r  ^f  '^"  '"""'^  ""^  ^"^^'"S  billows  came 

dolefully  iroax  uelow  the  cries  of  the  steerage  and  second 

cab,n  passengers   terrified  by  the  convulsive  motions  of  the 

ierce  blalt!''  '''"'  ''^'  ''^'^''^  ""^  '^"'^'"^^^  ^"  '^' 

and  tZ?-^'T!  ''^"'"''  ''^'"°  ^'^"^^'  «torm-tossed  waves 
and  the  voice  of  human  anguish.  And  the  scene  which  met 
the  eye  was  no  less  dreary,  whether  one  looked  up  to  the 
PI  chy  sky  or  down  to  the  boiling  ocean,  or  forward  to  the 
fl  ckering  lights  which  marked  the  rocky  coast  of  Ireland. 
It  would  seem  at  first  that  the  promenade  deck  so  latelv 

wi?:  nT  :T''''''  ^^^"  ^"^  ^°-"'  --  "- ^  "t  to  th 

V  Id  so Iitude  of  the  waters,  and  the  motionless  form  of  Bill,  who 

Zth      .f        ^'"*'  "  ^"''"^  ''  ''''  ^^^-•"    N«t  -.  ther    was 
r.a    r«r"'  T""'-  "^'"'  spectral-looking  figure  leaning 
oTat    east  r'    '.i"''  '''"''  --«>  as  though  unconscious 
"l,y^"''  :T'^''''  ''  ^^«  «^«-«-t-l  -ar  around  him  and 
t.o  imm.ucri.  aanger  to  which  he  thus  exposed  himself 


42 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


Was  it  the  demon  of  the  storm  contemplating  liis  own  work 
and  exulting  in  its  ravages  ?  No  such  thing,  it  was  Henry 
Herbert  who,  sick  of  the  scene  in  the  cabin,  had  managed  to 
make  his  way  back  thither,  where  he  could  at  least  see  the 
extent  oi  the  danger.  Seeing  him  there,  the  helmsman  could 
at  first  hardly  believe  his  eyes,  and  when  once  convinced  of  the 
reality  of  the  vision,  he  supposed  him  one  of  those  supernatural 
beings  who  figure  so  oft  in  the  seaman's  tales  of  wonder,  and 
with  great  sang  froid  settled  it  in  his  own  mind  that  it  was 
Davy  Jones  himself  come  to  look  after  the  Garrick. 

In  truth  he  was  a  wild  unearthly  figure,  as  he  stood  there  in 
the  black  starless  night,  his  uncovered  head  exposed  to  the 
fury  of  tlie  elements,  and  his  rich  brown  hair  dripping  with  the 
briny  spray.  His  face  was  pale  as  a  sheeted  corpse,  and  his 
eyes  were  wild  and  haggard,  as  the  fast-flashing  lightning 
shone  on  his  unsheltered  form.  His  thoughts  were  of  death- 
death  and  judgment,  but  not  of  repentance.  Fear  and  despair 
were  in  his  soul,  for  he  thought  the  hour  of  vengeance  was  at 
hand  and  the  arm  of  God  raised  to  smite  him.  He  had  heard 
of  eternal  perdition,  and  he  had  laughed  many  a  time  at  that 
"  cock-and-bull  story'— now  he  felt  its  drend  reality  and  began 
to  feel  what  it  was  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  an  angry  God. 

Hark!  was  that  an  echo  from  within  or  without  1  was  that 
voice  from  heaven,  or  earth,  or  helll  Again  it  si)oke  and 
Herbert's  heart  sank  within  him,  and  ihe  blood  in  his  veins 
ran  cold  as  ice,  and  the  hair  on  his  head  bristled  ud  as  if  in- 
stinct with  horror. 

"  Henry  Herbert !"  said  the  voice  at  his  elbow,  "  does  this 
night  put  you  in  mind  of  anything?— ha !  ha !  ha !"  the  laugh 
sounded  dreary  and  sepulchral  to  Henry's  ear,  and  he  trembled 
from  head  to  foot. 

"  Ho!  ho!  ho  !"  said  the  voice  again,  lowly  and  slowly,  but 
fearfully  distinct,  "  that  was  a  brave  stirring  night  in  ihe  place 
you  know,  when  the  winds,  and  the  thunder,  and  the  lightnine 
were  a*  work,  and  the  sperits  were  peepin'  in  at  the  windows 


THE'    IRISH    r.IRL    IN-    AMERICA.  43 

''  Ha  !  it  is  you,  then,  misbegotten  fiend !  I  know  you  now  " 
and  turnzng  with  the  fury  of  a  maniac,  Herbert  clutched  the 
thick  bushy  hair  of  the  hunchback  and  held  liim  fast. 
Ho  !  ho !  ho !  do  you  mean  to  kill  me  V 

"  I'll  throw  you  overboard,  I  will  by  the " 

stouMr.'  ^''  ^T  ^'''  '^'^'  ^"  •^"'^'"  '^'^^  '^'-  little  man 
stoutly  "you've  brought  this  on  us  all-don't  make  matter, 
worse  by  yo^xr  curses !    I  know  you're  not  hardened  enough   0 

murder,  an'  I  don't  want  to  expose  you " 

"  You  don't  V  said  Herbert  scoffin-ly 

say  for  if  I  only  gave  the  sailors  a  hint  of  the  thing  i)ou  know 
all  the  captains  livin' wouldn't  save  you,  for  they'd  think  i 
was  2,.u  brought  the  storm  on  us-an',  God  knows,  but  may  be 
;|-.l-yo_u^  raised  it  that  other  night  as  sure 'as  deS  il 

his  gT^p. '"'"''  ""^^  '"^  •"  ^^"-'^^^^  «-b--t.  ^"t  he  let  go 

.i1?''i^-'Tm' ^°""'^^  ^'''•"  «^'-^^'"«d  the  hunchback 

«' f'l        ^f"''^'^  ""'''''''''  ^"^  ^«  chuckled  at   ife 
though    of  how  nicely  he  had  tricked  the  sailors  when  thev 

";::::  r  ^^^^^  ^^^^^  -^  -'^^ «-  ^--^^«  -h::: 

"There  they  go,"  said  the  man  at  the  wheel    "Lord  h-.' 

"There  ;.     ''''.^'''■^'  ""^^  "^*'"  ^^«  ^'^^^^^'^^n  spoke  • 
There  !  the  mainmast's  gone  !" 

"I    hone    tn    fha  TcirA  7-' »       i 

,      .  ,,ora  Ac-  s  gone,  too  !  •  said  Herbert  to  him- 


44 


BESSY    CONTTAY;     OR, 


self  as  he  Kcranibled  to  his  feet     TitMn«fl-    *   i  , 
ne^,  overhcl  to  the  throne  of  the  God  of  mercy 

dis  w!:';:t  f!rt  :eV::t"of  tf  ;"^'"  ■»  ^''°''  -  '- 

"  Oh !  dear  Mother  Mary !"  she  said  with  fervor  «  von  Vn. 
yon  are  called  the  Star  of  the  Sea!-all  is  darl '  ifr 

Mrs.    AValters    listened    half    amused     hoif      A-a   , 


'HE    IRISH    GIRL    ix    AMFRICA. 


46 


Tke^lZ  f  \  T'  """'''"'  ^'''  '  «'^«  «-°'  '-^nd  she  will  n 

InldSr       "   eT'^  -d.  Bessy  forget  her  own  share 

3aid  witfearful  eyes' Zr^oT^  Tf  ''''  "^''''''^  '"  ^^- 
remember  always  «.at  'God  n  !^  "^'  '''"'"'  ^^^'^^  ^^ 

clesertHim'-nowy  u  is^ewhari  ""™  ^'^^  '^'^'^ 

Mother !  what's  that  1"  ^  ^"^  ^°'  "'"^^^ ''  ^^««««^i 

The  huge  vessel  gave  a  rcll  and  a  ninn«^  »  a 
settle  on  one  side.  ^      '^  ^'''^  appeared  to 

"Oh  God!  oh  God!  she's  go^n-r  do\vn»"  Mr,  xtr  u 
in  mortal  terror.  ^'^-  ^^^^^''^  <=^ied 

"No,  she  isn't,  ma'am  dear!  she'll  not  go  down!"  still  «n 
swered  Bessy.    Back  wUii  «r,^*i         ,       b^uowni    still  an- 

coo^.    jjacK  wjth  another  plimfre  wpnf  th^  „i  •     ^ 
her  former  Do<i;f inn  nnri  «♦  *i,  i  "'"&«  "ent  the  ship  to 

terical  langfter  which  1  a„     '  t    *'■'  '""'^'  '"'"  "  »*  "'  ''y- 


rr 


40 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


at  all,  being  far  too  much  absorbed  in  their  own  happiness  to 
pay  any  attention  to  their  little  servant  girl. 

"  Well,  Lord  bless  me !"  said  Bessy  to  herself,"  to  be  such 
good  people  as  they  are,  isn't  it  curious  how  little  thought  of 
God  they  have  !'• 

"  Do  you  think  we're  safe  now,  William  I"  asked  Mrs.  Walters. 
"  I'd  fain  hope  so,  my  dear ! ' 
"  And  no  one  lost  1" 

"  I  wish  I  could  say  yes,"  replied  the  captain,  and  his  coun- 
tenance fell." 

"  AVhy  who— who  is  missing  V 

"  Two  of  the  crew— Sam  Jones  c.nd  Hal  Herrick !" 

"  Dear !  dear !  how  did  ihat  happen  1" 

"  Washed  overboard  !  Good-bye,  Addie  !  I  must  go  seo  the 
cabin  passengers  and  relieve  iheir  fears  !" 

"  And  the  steerage,  sir  V  said  Bessy  in  a  timid  voice. 

"  Oh  !  they're  all  right,  my  girl,"  said  the  good-natured  cap- 
tain, "  they're  safe  under  the  hatches,  but  we  must  keep  them 
there  till  the  danger  is  entirely  over !"  He  had  openerl  the 
door  to  go  out,  but  started  back  with  an  exclamation  of 
surprise : 

"  Why,  who  the  mischief  have  we  here  1" 

"  It's  only  me,  captain  dear !"  squeaked  a  shrill  voice  from 
the  midst  of  a  dripping  bundle  of  clothes  as  it  seemed  at  first, 
then  throwing  back  the  cape  of  an  old-fashioned  "big-coaf' 
in  which  he  was  enveloped,  the  ungainly  form  of  the  huncli- 
back  stood  revealed. 

"  For  the  love  of  God  let  me  in!"  cried  Paul  in  piteous  ac- 
cents, whilst  the  captain  stared  at  him  in  blank  surprise. 
'     "  Where  did  you  come  from  1"  he  asked  with  a  strong  temp- 
tation to  laugh. 

"  From  the  deck  overhead,  your  honor !— sure  I  hid  myself 
for  fear  of  bein'  nailed  down  below,— an'  I  wish  I  hadn't— if 
I  had  only  taken  my  chance  with  the  rest,  it's  better  off  I'd 
be  now." 


THE   IRISH    filRL    IX    AMERFCA. 


wn  happiness  to 


47 


led  Mrs.  Walters. 


n,and  his  conn- 


must  go  seo  the 


"Let  the  poor  follow  in,"  said  Mrs.  Walters.    Th.  hin.cl,- 
passed  0^^'"^  '"  ^'""'^'"Sly,  while  the  captain  laughed  and 

"God's  blessin'  be  about  you,  ma'am,"  said  Paul,  "I  hope 
you  II  never  want  a  shelter.    Sure  I  >vouldn't  know  where    >n 
earth  to  go  to  only  I  saw  the  light  in  your  little  windows  1  o 
There^s  another  poor  devil  amost  dead  up  above.    I  don't 

know  but  he's  clean  gone  by  this  time " 

''And  who  is  thatl"  said  Mrs.  Walters  compassionatelv. 
Horblr     .     ''Tl '';  ""^"'^^  good-for-nothing  of  the  name  of 
fnfnfM      'T        ''"^  ^^-^^^^  ^  stealthy  glance  at  Be.s.sv.     "He's 
one  of  the  cabm  passengers  whatever  kept  him  on  d;ck— J-' 

.ombLrsZo'f^r  '''''"  '''-'  ^-^^— ^ce  that 
Where  he  is!    But  I'm  not  sure  that  the  life  is  in  him  for  all 

'^Tl'"^:::-:-:-^'  --^-^«  ^^^  -  -se  or  feeim. 

''Dear  me !  is  there  no  one  there  to  look  after  him  V  said  Mr. 
^a  ter,  anxiously.    "  Why,  he  should  be  seen  to  at  once     T 
wish  the  captain  had  known."  '»  at  once.     I 

"  If  I  only  knew  where  it  was  ma'am   T'^  f  ,.^  «^i       ,     ,  . 
out,,  said  Bessy  with  a  blushing  ^k  1  ''^^/Z  ^W^ 
Ch„st,an  there  at  the  mercy  of  the  waves  and  the  wind      Mavbe 
he  t.,  dead  by  this  time,  as  the  decent  man  says  "  ^  ' 

But  how  can  we  heln  him  Bm«:v  ?    u  ,^^  i  j   i 
-  your  „-fe  or  mtae  w^u.^be  „o«,  ^v    *    ^rr ';r 

" '■ '      ^^  "'  ^^  "•  "  «°»"in't  do  to  leave  him  ,r>,ere 


M 


48 


BESSV    CONWAY  ;    OR, 


he  w— come  along,  Bessy !  I'll  show  you  the  way,  and  hel.>  vou 
what  I  can." 

"  Well !  if  you  must  go— go!"  said  Mrs.  Walters ;  "  I  do  feol 
a  little  anxious  myself.    If  you  find  him,  bring  him  here ! 

"If  we  find  him!"  repeated  Bossy  in  a  low  voice,  as  she 
followed  the  hunchback;  "  oh  God  forbid  we  didn't!  Only 
for  me  he  wouldn't  be  here,"  she  said  within  herself,  "  and  it 
will  go  hard  with  me  or  I'll  save  him!" 


»;i 


ay,  and  hel^)  you 


THE    IRISH   GIRL   IN    AMERICA. 


49 


CIIArTER  IV. 

The  storm  naa  passed  away  and  witli  it  the  danger,  .he 
ajnmast  was  replaced  by  another  as  stout  and  stauncJ.  ^hich 

mdlam  on  the  deck  in  provision  for  such  contingency,  and 
the  Garnck  was  again  under  full  sail  speeding  away  westward. 
The  passengers  released  from  their  gloomy  prison,  and  restored 
rlf^T  '';?  '"f  ^^"<^«'  ^^^^°  -»  the  more  cheerful  and  hila- 
rious for  the  cloud  that  had  obscured  their  prospects.    Now 

hat  the  danger  was  passed,  they  could  afford  to  talk,  and  even 

augh,  over  their  previous  terrors,  and  discuss  at  their  leisure 

the  impressions  made  on  their  minds  by  the  scenes  they  had 

witnessed.     It  was  drawing  tusvards  evening  on  the  day  follow- 

ZlTfT  7'"!  "'^^''  ''  ''"  "*'^"  "^«  ^"'•'•^■^^  P^«««d  within 
sight  of  the  Irish  coast,  and  oh !  how  beautiful  it  looked  in 

on!  fTTJt^  "'  '''  ^^""^  ^""'    '''''  ^--^  >t  ^vas  each 
one  fe  tat    hat  last  sad  moment-they  knew  not  before  how 
much  they  loved  that  "Isle  of  beauty"  till  the  well-sprin.  in 
their  hearts  gushed  forth  at  the  sight  of  the  land  wh  ch  had 
hitherto  been  their  home-the  land  of  childhood's  happy  day. 
here   dead   friends  lay  in  their  quiet   graves  awaiting  the 
llosurrection,  and  living  hearts  still  beat  warmly  for  them  and 
sad  y  mourned   their  departure.     As  the  wa'derers^'a    ' 
hrough  the  mist  of  tears  on  that  fast-fading  dream  of  b:auty 

ZlfZ     7.^"'"  °''^^°-  ""^  "^  "^«  ^^t  point  of  the  well- 
loved  island  disappeared  amid  th^  «-,-«.=  .„  .i,„  ^.v.._.  ... 

it  seemed  as  though  the  last  hold  of  life  wer  J'sna7pe"l  asunder! 

3 


so 


RKSSY   CU.VWAV;     OR, 


".ought,  unobserved,  between  T.       ,  ""''"'"■' ""  "'" 

the  cabin  door.    Shi  w„rthinLt  ,    '    '"'  «"""''  "»'' 

«■■    U,e  „„n,  tie,  tbal  I  'd  t*  T  tL'trf  T" 

f'pUl.v  passing  from  her  vi.,v   when  ,>.  '"""'  *"' 

struck  ,„ournfully  on  her  ear  „I,;iT  """^  °'  "«'■''"'■' 

at  her  side  pale  and  hl-ard      r"'"^  "i"'*'^' ""' """"» 
met  his  "  ""SSMcI,    He  smUed  sadly  as  her  eyes 

ba:j::"a'coi::r;rt,^7Cn7r' "/?  ^-^ '» '~'» 

the  Pictnresaue  coal'  b  '2  t  e„  ^.^ti f  ''''  '^^"'^'^  -» 
bitter-there  is  „„  dark  thougW  of  ^  oTi  "'  "  "'" 
betn-eeii  y,ju  and  tl,»  f„v  i     j  "'"""''  <•"«"  iig 

"ere  every  hoa     her!  ^-  '"'"  '""  '"  "'"•    ""  »«J  ' 

almost  Joy/.  "  "  '""'"=''"'  "^  J'""".  ««"»w  would  be 

^^"'z::'ZTcznZT:T'  ■"'  ■"  ™"'''-  ^--^ 

thing  i„  the  tone  Of  is  voice  tht'"'";'  '""""»  — 
knew  not  why.    Hi,  Lo  .J.  ,         ?    """'  '"  ""^  '"""•'■  "'« 

-:ahuha.o.h^'ir:Tr,=ir-T,;: 
njhf :^:'";i-;:t::  -rr^^  r  »■"''■  -^  ■"»  '-• 

seek  mo.  I'll  „e"r  II  j  T^^  "'"^  """  "'•»  '" 
so  hardened  a,  7Z  may  nfl'  '"  T'  """"'  ''"'  »»' 
»nd  don't  turn  away  yo"r  head  ™r  "^'  ""'  """«'■'■ 
only  let  me.  -I  win' Lied  tj^  ''L^:;'- fl*  "  ''»"'" 

rtTea";:"^ '"" '-'" "--  -- '"- »:  rzi 

you !"  '""'  '"-"  '»  ""t  right  for  me  to  hear 


THE   IRISH   OIRL   IK   AMEBICA.  gj 

"A,lJ  why,  Bo^jr,  „I,y  j.  It  not  rfsht  ?"_ona  I,,  tri,.,!  .„ 
lak«  her  hand,  which  .he  re»olut«Iy  wlthheM    "  !,  „,  , 

.-for  t.,0  cp,„,„„„,  tho»ewh„w^ree  T  'I,:'    ,:7 

.:irhr..rt:';;ijrr"  ""^"'"'  "™-"-- 

h^c.  protruded  itae„hetwee„  the  two  i„  ^.ran.rLttanm ,g 
At  the  same  moment  a  rough  hes  y  hand  '  M  h^h}  .r  tr 

chap  I  this  b  „„  place  tor  y,°„°"  ^^  '  '"""""■  ""^  ^''^'g 
haii""  °™  '""  ""'  ""^  '°  "^  '•""  •  '■^-''  "-K"' 
do'l'tor";*'"?  '"  ""'  ""^  '  "■»■  ""'  '»"'»  >—f  Off,  or  r« 

"N^Taryl^Xr^arrel^.?-"-  "  ~ 

Plm>gtagaal„lyi„hr«rt:ithf  ,    ;      '"*"-   '""' 
held  him.    ■  *     '^       """''■'''  "  ""o » '•i"  that 


52 


BESSY   CONWAY;    OR, 


•'  There's  a  fine  seat  for  you  now,"  said  Ned  in  a  voice  loud 
enough   o  attract  general  attention,  "  where  the  ladl   ca  'a 

Both  d  nL  '      ^r'  '^'"'^^  •'     ^'«^^y  »«^- '  steady  !■' 

insln   V  T"  T'""'^  '''  ''"  "^«»^«"t  -"d  all  eyes  were 

ms^ntly  turned  on  the  actors  in  this  strange  scene.    Shou  s 
of  laughter  arose  from  the  main  deck  where  some  notions  I.^ 
got  abroad  rather  unfavorable  to  "  the  half  sir '' ^1^ 
the  more  polished  cabin  passengers  a' the  ol        .     ''" 
unable  to  restrain  their  mirth  wit^rth^  blU^^^Lr 

cianvwZn'r""""''  P^"^'  "^^  ^»^--«<l  person,  e":;: 
cially  when  they  recognized  him  as  one  of  their  own  numllr 

opTtol    r  ""  ""^^  ^^'^^^'  ^'--  gentle  heTr. ret; 
ZTJ    ^T    ^  '^'""P"'^^-    ^^''  ''''  ^"^i«»«  to  see  how  Her 
belt  would  act  under  such  trying  circumstances,  and  thou"; 
more  than  suspecting  the  cause  of  Ned's  singular  freak  !tni 

crime  than  a  liking  f^t    pLyma  a     Z  T  n'  "°  "°~ 

w.ee  hi.  ,i„k  a,vay  ove^h';.:!,'::;,',,::,:  ToXr 

but  she  found  herself  mistaken  contusion, 

to!?""?',""^'"  '"'™  "'^  •■'»  '»'>■"''  emotions  ho  managed 

snulo  that  made  h,s  wan  face  look  ghastly,  and  turned  to  Ne^ 
Fm,ga„  who  stood  at  the  top  of  the  ladder,  waiting,  douhtl!^ 
to  enjoy  his  confusion.  ^'  '*°"""e88> 

"  That  was  well  done,"  said  he  "  v(»rv  w«ii  ^^      •  ^     , 
really  had  no  idea  of  y^„r  prod^  louJX:     .    "^  ■;t:n  i'f 
yon  eho«se  to  enter  the  ring  in  New  York  you  wHl  bLTy;  ' 
kee  Surlivan  hollow!— ha!  ha'  ha'  •«  (»>/,„.  •    ,  • 
.he  ladder ,    Upon  my  honor ,  that  isglod"  "        ""  ™'  "" 
This  was  addressed  to  a  gentlcnan  standing  near  who  1,„,1 
heen  one  of  the  first  to  indulge  his  mirth  a.  Herbert,  okJZ 
Bemg  a  stranger  he  could  not  detect  the  unnatural  Z:::' 


THE    IRISH    GIRL   IX   AMERICA.  53 

dlflarS,  •""^.sWl  preserving  the  same  air  half- 

aehant,  half-humorous,  the  smile  and  the  bn^h  ,lr„H  , 

he  „,ght.a  adventare,  he  leaned  for  a  fe>v  momon        .a 
the  bulwark,  apparently  tal<ing  a  last  fond  look  a,  tl,?M 
m.sty  line  which  marked  the  outline  of  h  ,  „  .*  1*    .t; 

:rtha7eTerr"'^ "--  '-^ '-"-  -^ "-  ••'■■" 

"He's  a  confounded  queer  fellow  that  Herbert i"  said  Pin 
tarn  Walters  to  his  wife  the  next  time  they  were      ne  "1  eth  r  : 

I  happened  to  be  where  I  had  a  full  view  of  the  proce'e^tsU 
Md  I  give  you  my  honor,  Addio  Walter,  h^  „l,!  °  ,!'""S'# 
«rell  to  turn  the  laugh  on  the  big  f^rota^'  t  ^''  ^^  "f 
U.U.  have  felt  rather  small,  f^r  he  m^drbf  Vetrl^r;; 

"Weill  I  know  not  how  it  is,"  observed  the  lady  "but  T 

ioM„°'„f  ,h„T7,        I   ""''  '"''""'  '^^=isns,but  there  is 

"^  me'th  s  Wil ;  tTi^r  '""  "  ""  »'  ^  -"  J"^se.    Now 
■  mo  uus,  William !  if  the  countenance  bo  the  i^dex  of  ii,„ 

boolf  bv  T'  ^"'  ^  ^'"'^  ""  ^^^^^  ''"  ^^P^0PJ«  «'^'«  take  the 
book  by  the  cover  were  there  fifty  axioms  to  the  contrary     T 

te    you  I  cannot  believe  Herbert  a  villain-'     ""^  '^"''^"'^-    ^ 

Don'*-,  frnof  1,:^   r-^  -«•••- 


f- 


..^' 


64 


1     ' 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


1!! 


^r^ZXrlLlnl  TTr.'""  -">J-'-'.»f  course, 
"  Are  you  sure,  now  ■?" 

from  Bes.y  ,„r  his  offleious  iTddlg  n"""  """"'  '"  ""'  «^' 

-apade,  a„l:;:^  oM  S  p^  pT.nt^^^.  °f  "^  - 
b„sh,es,,  whereupon  Ned  answered  [ha  T"^       "'"'' '™  °''° 
business  When  cL.isin,  h"   ^.'sadT  T""  'n 
%enou8h  how  things  would  m  if  i  , ',  1  u°'    '  "*°  "»" 

and  il- shame  or  ll™.  !  '^"'°P'°  '"'™  "">"■  ™y. 

my  share  0   ,h    dtrLe Tr-""'  °"  'I"""' """'"''  '  '«"« 
way  !  and  there  ist'^„,        ,     ""l""  '"'"°==''  ^"''y  ^"r,- 

^oapo..race  buTrn  It    °  {  '"'*  '"'»'  '^°"''S"»'  ""•>  «.a, 
\   a'-it-e  out  i  u  make  a  show  of  vou  both  i"    «  a   ^     v 

good  will  that  do  you  V'    "  r^n^  .  ^""^  ^""^^^ 

wll    ^    .         anotherword  would  Ned  hear. 

ev:::irdi:rr,di„rerr''  "'■"  --  '■--  «- 

toanunderta'dintln       *''°  ""O  «»'>' """ert  had  come 


liiil 


THE    IRISH    GIRL    IN   AMERICA. 


65 


8  in  a  low  voice. 


nly  some  words 


they  found  themselves  face  to  face  one  moonlight  night  about 
a  week  after  When  most  of  the  passengers  were  sitting  n 
groups  here  and  there  beguiling  the  time  with  song  and  story. 
Ned  Fmigan  (if  that  be  your  name),"  said  Herbert  in  a  low 
hissmg  tone,  "  I've  an  account  to  settle  with  you,  but  the 
chances  are  against  me  for  the  present.  The  means  are  not 
atmyd.sposaljustnow,butI  have  a  good  memory  Ned  and 
you  wdl  find  yourself  paid  with  reasonable  interesUome'  dly 
when  you  least  expect  it.    You  understand  me,  I  hope  ^" 

Indeed  then  I  do.  and  I  give  you  free  leave  and  liberty  to 
do  your  worst.  I  don't  care  that  for  you,  Henry  Herbert"' 
and  he  snapped  his  fingers  close  to  his  face.  "  You  understand 
me,  I  hope  r  mimicking  the  other's  tone.  Herbert  smiled  a 
ghastly  smile,  and  nodded,  and  passed  on  up  the  ladder  to  join 
the  company  on  the  quarter-deck.    There  was  a  deep  red  spot 

Lr  W  ,      ?.  T^  '  '""^  '^^^'  "^  ^'  ^>'^«  *^^'  b«ded  no 

thought  !f?^.^  'T.  '''  '^''^  ''  *'^  ^^•"^'  ^^^  -  one 
thought  of  observmg  h,m  at  the  moment.    Ned  stood  looking^ 

after  him  with  a  curious  expression,  half  ridicule,  half  wonder^ 

then  turned  carelessly  on  his  heel  and  strode  along  the  deck 

m^Z    t  '^V!''  ^"'P^^''  ""^  ^""^  Brannigan,  and  old 
Dolly  Sheehan,  sitting  near  the  jorecastle. 

''What's  that  he  was  sayin'toyou  T  whispered  Paul,  as  Ned 
took  possession  of  the  place  which  Ally  Murphy  bashfully  made 
for  him  next  herself. 

"  Why,  bad  manners  to  you,  Paul,  have  you  eyes  in  the  back 
of  your  head  ?"  said  Ned  with  a  light-hearted  laugh.  "  I  didn't 
think  you  could  see  us  from  here  7" 

*  You  see  I  did,  then— what  did  he  say  1" 

"I'll  tell  you  again.     'Hem!"  raising  his  voice,  "weren't 
you  sayin  ,  Ally,  that  you'd  wish  to  hear  '  The  Shannon  Side  v  » 
Well !  If  it's  pleasin'  to  you,  Mr.  Finigan,  I  would,  then.' 

Clearing  his  throat  vociferously,  Ned  commenced  his  "  stave  " 

Id  before  he  had  got  through  the  first  verse  his  loud  clear 
voice  .av.  attraeted  scores  of  the  passengers  to  the  spot,  and 


and 


66 


BESSY  CONWAY  ;     OR, 


as  some  of  the  laJies  0^6,47"  in  a     '  ^    "*"^'  '"'"'"'«■ 
black  book,  which  for  ,„„l,.  ,,       ,  ""^  curious-looking 

"kin  to  thaUak:„\l:2'l'Xr  ""f '  ""  ^™""'<° 
i>a„d  in  fair  Melrose,  by  MVi  L"of  S?''  "'"'"  """''' 

The  book,  indeed  ami  thl  .      ^i^'orame,  good  at  need.'  " 

were  fren  .e" t  snbi!;^^  r  *""  SOntlcmanly  owner  thereof 
or  the  vZ::^Z:jaT:i  --S^'  '-^ridlen 
somewhat  pensive  co™te  1^  «"  ZV""  «'"""" 
brightened  with  a  hnmorons  smile  !,.h    ^  "'  ''"""""S" 

fooMeps  passing  behind  hlTr  s,".  "l'::"'''""' f '^"""^ 
prj-ing  eyes  were  endeavoring  tl\,.^       '  '"""  """  "■"''■■ 

%at  the  book  .„  his  z::cjm:jzr:V'" """"'' 

presented  «  strange  symbolical  character  ''^"'  """'°'^ 

rng  :r:;rri:t2r:- teritr " "? '° '""-» •"»  '->■ 

black  who  was  kne  vn  Imon"  h  ff'n  ""  ""  """™'""  " 
Daly.  When  questioned  conternt/""",'"'?"^™  '"  ^"■ 
and  eitlior  evaded  the^rb?.?.     ,     °.         ''"'"'<"'  '"»  ''""d 

some  hints  Of  a  vt;:;:^;^":^^^  °'  °"'""^-  ""^  -^ 

..rinr::Lr:oX:=^^^^^^^ 

to  be  of  a  very  bashfnl  1^,7     ,  demeanor  was  observed 

uncovered,  t^^^^s^^  n^^^^^^  ''''^'  f'^  ^-^^  '^acl 

ployed  in  kicking  away  some  :hi!  TT  ^'"^"^^'^  ^"^- 
feet.  Then  the  d^^arf  was  3^0 1 '^  T  '"''"''^  ''^  ''  ''^' 
owner  of  the  black  bo^^racTu  iTteTtT  T""  "'"'  ^'^ 
as  he  hstened  to  the  little  LZ  T7l\  '^  '"'""  ""^'^^^'^n 

uie  httle  man,  and  lo !  at  Paul's  next  visit  he 


THK    IRISH   GIRL    IX    AMERICA.  57 

unreasonable  man  in  Kin^i     1  ^  *^''''  ^"^  the 

uiiauie  man  in  black  always  contrived  to  linir?  ».;„  1 

sons,  too  and  la^^  nf  oii  +1,     ^       .  "augnteis,  ay!  and 

,  ^yj^,  aiKi  jast  01  all  the  dwarf  wJfh  TJniitr  ov,«  i, 
byhis'fi^dp     Tn  fi,        11  "'' ^""  ^0"y  Sheehan  close 

and  radian,,  wtrsmnerwho  2"u  ^°""^'  ""' '"  ""  ""' 
Mr.  Daly  as  provokfa2!!,         T    "  '""'  '"""S  «"W"  bu.   ■ 

Hon  of  th6  othm     r!„  ''"''"'"'?' l"J''y'"««'oniy8tiflca. 
pa-sense,,  were  En^I   h  Ivh'^"""'"'  '*°""'^'  "'  "•»  "^"bin 

tf*  surmhi^  f;/ '™tlatforr  "?  """  '^*°"""'  "* 

-ening,  f„r  whieh  Zy  "ere  b/nrZ*  "  '°"'"°°  "•™^'" 
of  tJie  gentlemen  I,.,/Ln     m   '^  ,  "  Prepared.     Some 

mystery    "ndTreat  m.  f  ^^  ^  ™'™teered  to  penetrate  the 
wL  succeeded  ™'  °'"™'"'  "^  *"  '-"''  '"'""'i-al 

.'w'"'  "'"'"''"'isitalUbontJ" 
_^  Wlio  ,s  the  gentleman  in  black  v 

.ume'lrZy  "'5^":::;  if :!i':^""'.  "-^^  «-•>"'  '>•»"  - 


H«  had  kno;v-n  from  ilie  first  all  about  it.' 


58 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"  Oh  dear !  we're  tired  guessing  !" 

"  Well,  theii,  the  gentleivau  in  black  is- 

"  What!  whol" 

"A  CathoHc  priest!" 

'•  There,  Bella,  didn't  I  toll  you  he  was  a  Jes  at !" 

"  You  told  me  no  such  thing,  Elly '" 

"  Oh  ne !" 

"  Why,  do  tell  I  a  Catholic  priest !" 

"  Well !  what  more !" 

'^There's  been  a  wedding  to-dc^,"  said  H^oVtev  £ontl>.nan 

..elf  the  little  Coody-two-shoes  in  the  blue  cloak  -     ^ 
ge«^:;' <:',.'"'"  "''  ''^  '''  woman-have  they  come  to- 
JWell  no,  n.:  .sa.tly,   I  suppose  they  think  ILomselves 
Oer  young  t.   u.xrry  jeV    Why,  ladies,  you  seem  disap- 
pomted-ijot  a  word  of  thanks  for  all  my  trouble  " 

"  La !  it.  don't  amount  to  anything  after  all.  If  I  haa  i^nown 
ho  was  only  a  Popish  priest,  I  wouldn't  have  taken  the  trouble 
even  10  look  at  him  !-if  he  had  turned  out  to  be  a  .p  or  a 
Turkish  dorvise "  y;/,  ^i  i. 

"  Or  a  foreign  magician,  you  know  >" 

'<  Or  one  of  those  Irish  Agitators-why,  he  might  have  been 
0  Connell  himself,  ^nd  then,  only  think  what  an  item  thit 
..ould  have  been  for  one's  journal!    But  a  common  PoJS 
priest !  well  really  now  it  is  too  bad !"  ^ 

Leaving  the  gentlemen  to  enjoy  the  discomfiture  of  their 
fai    friends  on  the  fall  of  their  pretty  card-castle,  let  us  in 
virtue  of  our  privilege,  take  a  peep  at  what  was  ging  on 
the  captain's  cabin.  " 

bJ'li,'"^-'JT.'"'"'"°'^y^^«  concluded  and  the  company 
had  all  paid  thejr  respects  and  offered  their  congratulations  to 
he  happy  couple  (and  indeed  it  was  hard  to  tell  which  was 
the  happiest  couple  there,  for  Peery  Murpliy  and  his  .vife 
were  about  as  near  the  summit  of  bliss  as  the  uew  .,    de 


THE    IRISH    GUiL   IV    AXIEIUCA. 


59 


they  come  to- 


Rouses  themselves)  when  Paul  Brannigan  stood  forward  and 
addressed  the  priest  in  the  following  terms  • 

"Please  your  reverence,  Father  Daly,  "l  want  to  make  a 
bargain  with  old  Mrs.  Sheohan  here  while  you  and  thr^od 
company  is  to  the  fore."  ^°^^ 

Every  one  smiled,  and  the  priest  asked  in  a  jocular  way  "U 
It  going  to  make  a  match  of  it  you  are  ■?" 

"  'Deed  then,  it  isn't,  your  reverence;  there's  neither  of  us 
such  a  fool  as  that,  askin'  your  reverence's  pardon,  bu   I  wan 

s'oTp  •,        T  "  •'""  "^'^  ''  '''''  ^^^-^^-'  ^--'t  find  he 
son  Ph  hp  in  America  where  she's  goin'  to  look  for  him   I'm 

myo^nSr'^'"^  'io  for  her  as  if  she'wa" 

Before  any  one  could  express  the  emotion  that  stirred  every 
heart,   he  old  woman  turned  sharply  on  the  hunchback : 

"rsntit'«T''  ^"r    "o^v,Paul!"  she  cried   vehemently, 

rsn  t  It  all  nonsense  for  you  to  talk  that  way  ?    What  would 

ail  me  but  I'd  find  my  son  1    Not  but  what  Prn'onti^  y   b,  ^e' 

father  D.aly  had  bM„  interrogating  Paul  by  sisns  the  dwarf 
.av,„g  drawn  back  a  step  or  two  behind  Dolly,  al.d  he  1"  h 
hand  gent  y  on  the  old  ,vo™an'a  shonlder  and  Ued  1,0   wta 
certainty  she  had  that  her  son  was  ahve 

"  Wisha,  then,  what  certainly  w„W  I  J.ave,  your  reverence 
only  that  I  know  Ood  would  never  be  so  cruel  L  to  LTe "way 

:orkTr:rt.r' ""'  "'"■  -" '  '--•  »■  -  -^"-  -■- 

The  priest  shook  his  head  with  a  melancholy  smile  "  My 
dear  woman,  the  ways  of  God  are  not  our  way,  •■  he  said  in  ^ 
solemn  tone  "  God  is  never  cruel,  but  He  somelime     eTds  n, 

i^d  trM-T!:.™:^ '■-T  °«="'-  J-'  'O  try  our  faah 

01  this  world. 


earts  fjom  the  things 


60 


BE83Y   CONWAY  ;    OR, 


ri>«r  SOB  must  die  one  day  or  another  like  all  the  rest  of 
n.ank,„d  and  who  knows  but  his  turn  has  come  bete  „1°  ■ 

wouirn.re  rVii::-;".'  r„dTh:°'  r:  r  °'  -"" 
hu:cr:k':irs„i:Lrac?:="';?o:°t  r"'"  n  r 

not.    still  I  m  mllra-  to  stand  to  my  word  if  you'll  only  act 
l.ke  a  sensible  woman  and  make  the  best  of  the  worst."  "^ 

Dol,;  IT''"^  *"  ""^  '°  >"""  °"  ""y  <"■  'he  other,"  said 

Dlly  snappishly;  -.don't  be  botherin'  me,  I  tell  you  o^t  f^ 
all     Hegh  -  a  purty  son  you'd  make !"  and  she  looked  so  dis 
damful  y  at  Paul  that  the  little  man  could  stand  it  no  lorger 

"  I'm  "airl"""'  ""'"'m'"'  """"■ """"  "o""'"  ^^M  »»  tartly; 

"  I  do  you  poor  little  sprissatm  of  a  creature !"  cried  Dollv 
n  an  elevated  tone,  "but  I  don't  b'lieve  one  word  of  H 
lou'rejustsayin'ittospiteme!" 

"  Out  with  it,  man !"  said  the  priest  in  a  low  Tolce,  "  you'll 
never  have  a  better  time,"  ' 

"  To  spite  you !"  repeated  Paul,  and  he  fixed  his  keen  little 
eye,  on  her  face;  "ah  then,  it's  little  you  know  Paul  Branni! 
ffan  when  you  say  that !    I'd  give  more  money  than  HI  ever 

ould  moth-!r  that  he  used  to  talk  so  much  of  •" 
"  P.ut  sure  he  mil  come  to  meet  me-^ome  day-say  he  wiU 

dwarf  by  both  arms  and  looked  down  into  his  face     A  sad 
misgiving  smote  her  breast-perhaps  for  the  first  time. 

Jd      'T:lir!:!^..''"A  '''™  «■=.-"-'  •""  '"-  was  „„ 


AXTnri;^      *i,       ij  .         "'^  """CI,  uui  mere  W{ 

evndmg  the  old  eyes  that  were  searching  hia  very  sou!. 


THE    IRISH   GIRL    LV    AMERICA. 


61 


last,  he  looked  up  into  Dolly's  face  with  a  sort  of  desneration- 
li.8  whole  frame  shook  with  stronfj  emotion 

dead-Ti!/;.''  '''''''  "°'  ^"^'  '''''  «^-«^-'     ^--r  son  is 
For  a  moment  there  was  not  a  word  spoken-tho  two  still 
^  ood  lookmg  ,nto  each  other's  eyes,  and  the  spectators  .^e 
all,  as  It  were,  spell-hound. 
^^  At  last  old  Dolly  spoke-in  a  whisper-''  Are  you  sure  of 

''  An''voVt«n'  ^'7^'"^'^ '  ^  ^''^  ^  ^'-^  ««  sure  of  heaven !" 
^^  An  you  tell  me  I  have  no  son  to  go  to  V 

"  Sorry  I  am  to  say  it !" 

"  And  I'll  never  see  Philip  more  '" 

restrtl'  hl'f  ''°''';"  ''"'  ^'^'^^  ^'^^^'  "^^^'"^  ^»  ^ITort  to 
restra  n  Ins  tears,  and  taking  the  old  woman's  hand  tenderly 

but  m  heaven  you'll  see  him,  I  hope,  for  all  eternity."         '' 

a  dr  a  v'haT;  T'  •"'""'''  '  '^^^  ''  " '  --«^-ed  Dolly  in 
see  ■•    Slo  .?"'  '''^'  "^"'  then,  //,„„.  „,  ,,„^  ^.^ 

see  !      She  turned  towards  the  door  without  either  a  si^l  or  a 

will  some  one  let  mo  out  v  Tho  ,i^^  ■^  — 

..-  out  appa.„«.  ;„:  ha  j::a^;?:LTr.:n:t:r- 


62 


BESSY    COXWAY;     OR, 


CHAPTER  V. 

Six  or   ,.lght  weeks  had  passed  away  since  the  Oarritk 
landed  ho-  passengers  on  the  quay  of  New  York.     Of  the  hun- 
dreds  who  ;.ad  crossed  the  groat  nea  within  her  "  wooden  walls" 
very  fr  v  remained  together.    Scattered  abroad  over  the  face 
of  the  country  they  were  lost  sight  of  amid  the  surgin-  waves 
of  the  population.    Mrs.  Walters  was  spending  the  winler  with 
a  fnend  m  New  fork,  whose  house  was  located  in  the  then 
fashionable  Seventh  Ward,  somewhere  r  bout  Madison  street 
The  captain  was.  of  course,  gone  back  with  the  Garrick,  and 
Jios.sy  8  duties,  light  in  themselves,  were  madf>  lighter  still  by 
the  gentleness  an  '  goodness  of  her  mistress.    Tho  lady  of 
the  house  was  a  widow  in  good  circumgtancos,  with  a  Lirge 
Aam.ly,  and  there  were  three  girls  to  do  the  work  besides 
liessy.     There  was  also  i  colored  mrn-servant who  acted  iz.  the 
capacity  of  coachman,  a  groom  v/as  wholly  nnn-  .-essary,  a, 
Mrs  Hibbard's  horses  boarded  out,  and  L  r  carriage,  too,  was 
kept  at  the  Livery  Sta     -.    AV  .gether       seemed  a  pleisant 
house  to  live  m,  and  Bes.y  fancied  she  was  going  to  And  her- 
self very  comfortable  and  very  much  at  home.     Her  comrade- 
g.rls  as  she  called   them,  .ei.omed  her  ^, idly,  and  o.eered 
her  heart  with  the  assurance  that  they  were  all  Iri.h  and  err- 
so  glad  to  see  "her. 

Only  a  few  blocks  from  where  Be-v  lived  a  litti.  wav  ut> 
m  Catherine  street,  there  was  a  smau  oo  ore  kept  by" .  ,o 
Michael  Doolev,  who  had  some  five  o  ix  .ds  coustantiy  at 
work  m  a  httle  room  behind  the  store.    Amongst  these  migfar 


THE    IRldH   OIRI.    rx    AMERICA 


es 


be  seen  our  friond,  Paul  Brannigan,  plying  the  awl  from  morn 
ti  1  lught  and  aft.r  night,  too.  for  it  was  the  di.ll  dark  month 
of  November.  But  Paul  never  tired  of  his  work,  and  manv  a 
lught  he  rouiamed  at  it  after  hours  when  n,o.t  of  the  others  had 
gone  home.  What  was  the  thought  that  made  Paul's  work  «<> 
hght  to  h.m,  and  kept  him  cheerful  and  conter.tod  and  full  of 
fmi.as  ho  .at  hour  after  hour  in  that  dark  little  shop  ?    It 

JDoIly  Shoehan  and  providing  a  shelter  for  ho r  helpless  a^o. 
They  had  a  httle  room  to  tliemselves  in  a  tenement-house  in 
Ohver  street  hard  by.  and  the  old  woman.was  doing  her  best 
to  keep  Paul  from  feeling  the  w..t  of  a  younger  and  moro 
TZ  ^"'i^^^^'^P^^-  E^«r  «in«e  «^e  recovered  from  the  first 
dreadful  shock  she  seemed  to  attach  herself  wholly  to  Paul  as 
the  on  person  who  had  known  Philip,  and  could  speak  to 
ner  of  him.  It  was  strange,  however,  that  she  never  inquired 
as  to  the  particula.^  of  his  death.    She  would  talk  of  him  for 

ir"!  1  f '1?'^'^  '"^^  ^'^^^"'  '^''^'^^S  ^^^^y  circumstance 
co,u,octedHMthh,searlydays.anddwellingwithamother'sfond- 
nea.  on  all  h,.  good  qualities.    Then  she  would  ask  Paul  to  toll 
hor  h  ,  •  Pailip  looked,  what  clothes  he  used  to  wear,  and  all 
sucl:  am-mte  narticulars  concerning  him,  that  the  hiuchback 
wa.  sometr       puz.lud  how  to  answer  her.     Yet  with  all  this 
she  never  once   ,ut  •>  question  relating  to  his  death.     She  saw- 
that  Paul  avoided  tha   part  of  the  subject,  and  so  did  she.  too 
InT^.    ^  IT  ""^  *''^*  ^g'-^^nient.  it  was  never  alluded  to  in 
any  Hay.     This  was  a  great  relief  to  Paul's  mind,  for  he  Im-I 
an  Idea  that  if  tho  old  worn;  .  icnew  how  her  son  di.       \ 

wUhn  l"'"'t'uV'''  ^'^'^  ''  ''"••     ^''"^y^  ^'^^  he  said 
^.Unn  himsolf:  «  Now.  in  case  si     did  question  m.  about  it 

and  wouldn't  be  satisfied  un..s  I  told  he,  how  on  earth  could 
I  bnng  myself  to  do  iti  how  could  I  tell  her  that  her  one  son 
tl^  pulse  01   her    heart,  perished   in   the  flames  v  .en   th^ 
boa    he  was  ,va,ter  '.n  was  burned  uu  the  B^,  Lakes  1    Now, 
^^">  ''-'-'  ^'''"  ""HK  you  coH&Z  toil  ht     that?    No, 


64 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


me«d,  nor  the  deuce  a  word  of  it.    jv,  bad  enough  a«  It  « 

take  t  better  from  him  ",an  from  me  or  anybody  el.o." 

Father  Daly  was  Ma^  a,,  for  the  present  at  the  house  of  a 
CO  le«o  fnend  ,vho  wa.s  pastor  of  one  of  the  city  churches 

ZZ^J'T'^lV  '"■'"'''^'"  ^'^"'"'"^"'^  immediately  after  his 
arrual  the  prelate  was  much  prepossessed  in  his  favor  and  pro- 
mjsed  to  pln.-e  him  in  the  first  vacancy  that  olTered.     I  e  took 
a  hvely  m  teres  tin  the  affu'rs  of  the  acquaintances  he  had  n    de 
on  board  the  Garrick,  but  the  dwarf  and  old  Dolly  were  the 
«pocml  objects  of  his  charitable  solicitude.     The  hoTo  c  delr 
Hon  w.th  which  Paul  attached  hiraself  to  the  lone     d  w  Z" 
whom  he  had.  as  it  were,  adopted  as  a  mother,  could  not"!^ 
0  msp.re  so  good  a  priest  vith  sentiments  of  respect  for  the 
httle  man.    Accordingly  he  did  hold  him  in  high  estee„rand 
took  p,  ,  j„  ^^^^.^^  ^.^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  crusty  shell  of  re;erve 

wluch^often  grows  over  such  natures  undo.  tlL  keen  sense  oT 

Peery  Murphy  and  hfs  two  sons  after  sundry  disappoint- 
men  3  and  delays  were  at  length  all  employed  in  one  way  or 

Z^lCf     T'  '''  ^°'  '  "''"^«^"  -  housemaid  ia'r. 
spectable  famdy  somewhere  in  Houston  street.    Mary's  looks 
were  much  in  her  favor,  and  there  was  a  certain  a  r  of  snar^ 
ness  about  her  and  also  of  neatness  that  made  her  a  very  pro 
nusmg  servant.    And  the  little  damsel  seemed  fully  awTreo 
her  personal  advantages,  judging  by  the  self-sufflcLt  1^ 
tha  wag^generally  seen  on  her  pretty  face.    There  was  onlv 
another  girl  in  the  house  where  .Mary  lived,  a  staireldei^J 
person  who  acted  as  cook  and  laundress.     She  was  an  Ameri^ 

Protes  nnt   moreover,  yet  a  very  good  girl  in  her  way  a  k1  dis 
pased  to  do  her  duty  as  far  as  she  knew  it.     Rebecca    or 

vn,  y  ?    r"  '".'1  ^'"''^"^  ''^^'^'  *°«^  q"^t«  «»  interest  in  tho 
young  Irish  g,rl  "just  come  out,"  and  seeing  that  she  was 


THK    IRISn   OIRL    IX    AMFRICA. 


65 


naturally  smait  and  intolligont,  had  groat  hopes  of  her  doinir 
well.  * 

Ally  Murpliy-we  bog  her  pardon— Mistress  Finifian,  was  a*. 

yet  staying  witli  her  niotlior,  until  such  tinio  as  Ned  could  hoo 

his  way  before  him  and  decide  on  what  he  was  going  to  d(» 

Ned  was  well  dispose.l  (.,  take  the  world  easy,  and  would 

rather  live  on  his  money  awhile  waiting  for  "  something  to 

turn  up,-'  than  go  seek  employment  where  he  might  possibly 

have  harder  work  than  he   cared  to  undertake.      Ho  had 

already  luinted  up  a  number  of  people  from  his  own  place,  and 

It  was  his  pleasure   to  saunter  around  from  one  house   to 

another  asking  advice  from  this  one  and  that  one  regarding 

the  best  way  to  invest  his  money.    Amongst  other  plac  s  he 

frequented  Paul  Brannigan's  room,  and  often  dropped  in  of  an 

evening  "  to  have  a  chat." 

One  evening  about  the  middle  of  November  he  mounted  as 
usual  the  three  pairs  of  stairs  leading  to  Paul's  habitation,  and 
nodding  pleasantly  to  Paul  and  the  old  woman  took  his  accus- 
tomed  seat  near  the  stove,  and  stretching  his  legs  to  their  full 
length  and  thrusting  his  hands  to  the  very  bottom  of  his 
breeches-pockets,  turned  to  Paul  who  had  laid  down  on  his 
entrance  a  well-worn  copy  of  Cobbetfs  Reformation. 

"  Well,  Paul!"  said  Ned  in  his  cheerful  way,  "  I  b'liove  I'll 
bo  makin'  a  start  one  of  these  days." 
"  How  is  that  1" 

"  Well !  I'm  gom'  to  commence  business." 
"  Ay  T  and  what  business  ?" 

"  I  was  thinkin'  of  the  liquor  business.    They  tell  me  there's 
nothmg  like  it  here  for  makin'  money,  if  a  man  has  only 
enough  to  start  it." 
"  An'  have  you  enough  to  start  it  1" 

MVhy,  it  doesn't  take  much  to  do  that,  by  all  accounts  " 
said  Ned  with  an  easy  contented  iaufili.  «  if  yoa  have  only  a 
matter  of  twenty  dollars  or  so  yo,  can  go  to  a  Mr.  Mcli;ry 
loat  s  m  great  business  here~a  fine  Irishman  they  sa-  he  is— 


^  ■"''U 

"^i. 


66 


BE3SY   CONWAY;     OR 


and  jist  tell  hh„  what  you  want  and  pay  him  as  far  as  vonr 

mpty  ones  to  fill  up  the  shelves,  and  there  you  have  a  beau 
tiful  hquor  store.    Now  i^n'f  t>,„f  *i  ,  "avu  u  uoau- 

heard   Pa„l  ?     t*  "'''  ^'^^^^^^  ""ng  ever  you 

you'd  find  il     T  ";'''  r'^  '^  "  ^°"^"  ^^y  ^"  ^••^^-"d  beLe 
you  d  find  a  man  to  do  that  much  for  you  !" 

'I'd  be  a  long  day  anywhere,"  said  Paul  curtlv  "for  th« 
reason  that  I  wouldn't  trouble  any  man  to  do  it"     "^^ 
xou  wouldn't?  and  why  so^" 
''Because  it's  a  business  I'd  have  nothing  to  do  with     I'd 
rather  go  and  broak  stones."  ^i^uo^iin.    id 

Ned  laughed  good-humoredly.    "ira»  hat  ha!  T'm  f i  •  i,-  . 

ilo !  ho !  ho  !  d'ye  hear  that,  Mrs.  Sheehan  i    T)n^.^'f  fi,- 
man  boat  the  world  for  ^ah  i    Avi,..  a  ,.^^  '    »«esn't  this 

'•Wisha  thnn  M-T^^.  .  ^^^^^d^y""  think  of  it,  ma'am?" 
Yvisna,  then,  Mister  F  n  iran  "  sniri  nM  n^n       J 

low  bench  bv  fi,«  of        V       '  "  ^°"y  ^^^0  sat  on  a 

ow  Dench  by  the  stove  knitting  a  stocking    "  wisha    tl-on 

lear  knows  it's  a  business  I  have  neither  lov;  nor'lkin  ^ 

triX  rrrlr'^  "  '  "'^  "^"^  "^-^'^^"^  to  L  yl^e- 
rt  I  would "      "'  '°"  ''  ^"^"^^"^  ^^«^-    ^^-'  I  -^yn't  - 

what  we  say  to  you  Ned  i"  1,«  nci,   i  loudont  heed 

"  W,.T1  r  ,-f  ]         !'  ^'^^^'^  ^'^^y  earnestly, 

carols  V      tT    ""f  ^  "'^^  ^*">'  --  -^«."  --vered  Ned 

U  at'  tife'  stlr«  V;     "'^  ''''' '"''^'^  "P  ^"•- "^'"^^  about 
»t.  an   the  store  is  taken,  an'  I  was  down  this  moi-nia'  w'th 


THE    IRI.S7I    GTRl,    I\    AMKUICA. 


67 


Mister  McRory,  God  bless  him !  an'  lie's  ffoin'  to  sond  up  the 
«tock  to-morro#  or  next  day/'  and  Ned  raised  his  head  still 
higher  on  the  strength  of  the  stock  that  was  to  be  his,  and 
looked  esultingly  from  one  to  the  other. 

"  If  that's  the  case,"  said  Paul,  "  I  may  as  well  hold  my 
tongue,  but  still  as  you  asked  my  opinion  at  the  start,  I'll  give 
it  to  you  now.  I  told  you  before  that  money  made  by  sellin' 
liquor  never  wears  well  and  sure  that's  no  wonder,  any- 
how  "  ^ 

"An' why  woM/rfn'f  it  Avear  well?"  demanded  Ned,  a  littlo 
ruffled  or  so  at  Paul's  utter  indifference  to  his  new-blo\v7) 
honors,  "  why  ivoiildn't  it  wear  as  well  as  any  other  1" 

"  Because  there's  a  curse  on  it " 

"  A  curse!  what  curse  1"  said  Ned  starting  to  his  fe«t. 
"The  curse  of  sin,"  returned  the  dwarf  also  rising,  and  look- 
ing up  into  Nod's  face  with  the  energy  that  marked  his  cha- 
racter; "what's  the  cause  of  the  misery  and  the  wickedness 
we  see  around  US'?    Isn't  it  drunkenness,  Ned,  an' nothin- 
else?    When  you  see  a  naked,  starved-lookin' creature  of  a 
man  comin'  in  to  take  his  glass,  don't  you  know  very  well  that 
the  money  he  throws  down  on  your  counter  has  the  curse  of  a 
heart-broken  wife  on  it,  an'  that  a  whole  family  may  be  shi- 
verin'  with  cold  an'  perishin'  with  hunger  while  that  beast  of 
a  man  is  gettin'  drunk  on  your  stock,  as  you  call  it?    Ah! 
l-:iat's  the  stock  that  brings  down  the  wrath  of  God  on  them 
•hat  sell  it  an'  them  that  buy  i^-now,  Ned,  you're  a  God- 

fearin'  man— I  know  that  myself— an'  so  is  your  wife,  too " 

"  Another  God-fearin'  man,"  said  Ned  with  a  forced  laugh. 
"No  matter,  you  know  what  I  mean— well!  I'm  sure  you'll 
not  be  long  at  the  business  till  you  find  out  that  poor  Paul 
Brannigan  wasn't  so  far  wrong  after  all.  There's  neither  of 
you  but 'ill  find  it  hard  work  to  be  humorin'  drunken  men  an' 
waitin'  on  them  at  all  hours,  an'  listenin'    o  their  oaths  and 

curses  an'  bad  discourse  of  every  kind " 

Old  Dollv  had  dronn«»f1  har  I-nUf;*,,.  «.,j  „.*  „-;*%.  » f         s 


«8 


i 


BES9i-   CONWAY;     OK, 


eyes    open    listening    entran.ed    ta   Pauls    scnilnn^   .rord.. 
h^e   and  anon  «he  no<iaoa  her  head  at  Ned,  .«  nua-h  Is  to  say 

lliat  s  the  man  lor  you  f" 

Ned  himself  was  more  dw^ply  impressed  bv  the  <hv.-,rf. 
harangue  than  he  cho«e  to  acknowledge,  but  he  saw  m,  v^e 
jn  fimng  „,,  as  ho  said  to  himself,  so  he  .till  tried  to  make  a 
laughmg  matter  of  it. 

JiV'^l'^  "''.f'"''^  somebody  had  made  a  c.>«,.seIIor  of 
>  ou  Paul,  he  sa.d  with  well-feigned  good  humor  ;  "  o«!v  for 
the  hump  you'd  have  made  a  tarnatio.  fi„e  priest,  but  if' yon 
had  got  learmn  for  a  counsellor  now,  I'm  tlnnkin"  Dan  bin.self 

what  b  o  ;  ;'  '  T"''^  ^"  -^""-  ^"'  '  "^«  ^-«^"'-  -^'-"b- 
what  brought  me  here.     Did  you  see  or  hear  anything  of  Her 

bert  since  ho  came  to  New  York  1" 

"  Not  much,  he  was  into  the  store  where  I  was  once  or  twice 
and  the  last  time  he  said  he  was  gain'  to  Boston  to  a„  unci.' 
ot  his  that's  very  rich  there." 
"  How  long  is  that  ago  V 
"  Well !  it's  about  a  month  or  live  M-eeks  " 
''Humph!  I'm  thinkin'  he  hasn't  left  New  York-if  he's  a 
hvin'  man  I  seen  hiu.  last  night." 
"  You  don't  say  so,  Ned  V 

"But  I  do!    Ally  an'  her  mother  an'  myself  were  con.in' 
along    down    the    Bowery  from    Houston    street   where  wo 
were  up  seein'  Mary,  an'  just  as  we  got  to  the  corner  of  Prince^ 
street  (I  thmk  it  was),  who  should  step  out  to  ns  but  Herbert 
and  he  passed  mo  as  close  as  what  you  are  now." 
"  Had  he  any  one  with  him  V 

*h  'T'l^T?;  '"f '""^ '''  ^'^^  ^  ^"^  *^"  gentleman  dressed  like 
the  lord  of  the  land,  an',  my  dears  !  you'd  think  the  two  were 
hand  an  glove  together,  for  they  were  talkin'  like  fifty  an'  s.» 
much  taken  up  with  their  own  discoorse  that  Ilerben'  never 

"  What  kind  of  a  place  did  he  come  out  of  1" 


THE   IRISH   GIRL    INT   AMERICA. 


69 


"  Well !  the  sorra  one  of  me  knows— there  was  nothing  in 
it  that  I  could  see  but  tables  and  chairs  and  them  big  screens 
they  have  in  public  houses  here." 

"  Humph !  a  saloon,  I  suppose,"  said  Paul  thoughtfully. 
"  Well !  well  ?  let  him  go,  as  long  as  he  keeps  out  of  our  way, 
let  him  '  follow  his  old  vagary  still.'  You  don't  think  he  has 
found  Bessy  cut— do  you  ?" 

"  Well !  indeed,  that's  more  than  I  can  tell  you,  for  Bessy 
and  I  are  not  the  best  of  friends,  and  I  don't  go  next  or  near 
her." 

Paul  said  no  more  on  the  subject,  and  Ned  soon  after  went 
away,  tramp,  tramp,  down  the  three  pairs  of  stairs,  whistling 
"  The  Dusty  Miller."  That  same  evening  Bessy  Conway  was 
called  to  the  hall-door  to  see  a  gentleman. 

"A  gentleman!  my  goodness?  what  gentleman  wants  to  see 
me  r'  As  Bessy  left  the  room  flurried  and  excited  she  caught 
Mrs.  Walters'  significant  glance,  and  scarce  knowing  what  she 
did  she  turned  back. 

" I'm  sure  it's  Um,  Mrs.  Walters !  Im  sure  it  is.  What  in 
the  world  will  I  do  1" 

"  I  will  tell  you  that,"  said  her  mistress  who  really  pitied 
her  distress;  "if  you  wish  to  put  an  end  to  all  this,  suffer 
me  to  go  in  your  stead.  I  will  dismiss  him  sooner  than  yon 
could." 

"Oh!  ma'am  dear,  if  you'll  only  do  that!"  cried  Bessy 
clasping  her  hands,  "  it'll  be  the  best  thing  you  ever  done  for 
mo  !*' 

Down  stairs  tripped  Mrs.  Walters,  and  in  the  hall  she  found 
Henry  Herbert  looking  as  dark  as  possible. 

"  Mr.  Herbert,"  said  the  lady,  after  returning  his  haughty 
bow,  "  was  it  my  servant  you  wished  to  see— if  so,  >ou  should 
have  applied  at  the  basement  door." 

"  Madam!"  said  Herbert  with  an  angry  flush  on  his  chsek, 
•^  not  accustomed  to  apply  at  basement  doors." 
._  — J  „... .....  .^.._.^  J,  j.„„  narc  uusiiic—,  wicn  a./  oi  tne 


ttr 


10 


BESSY   CONWAY;    OR, 


servants   it  is   there  you    must   see  them,   not   here      But 
now  that  you  are  here,  Mr.  Herbert,  allow  me  to  ask  wh" 

take  but  as  I  have  ma.nly  induced  the  girl  to  leave  her  pa- 
reglrd  """  "  "'"''  '""'  ''  ^^^^P^^  ^^^'^  ^''^^  -  '-• 
"Oh!  of  course,  of  course!"  said  Herbert,  with  some  em- 
barrassment, "  that  is  understood,  but  still  I  ckn  hardlvr.coT 
n.e  your  nght  to  question  ...  I  do  not  intend  to  l^un T;; 
with  Bessy-is  that  a  satisfactory  answer  r ' 
^   "No,  Mr.  Herbert!"  replied  Mrs.  Walters  very  nravely  "if 

Conwav  t  •"'"';"'  '  ^''''  ^^"  "^  -^ersta'd'that  Ls^' 
Conway,  bemg  under  my  protection,  must  not  be  exno^l  t'o 
uncharitable  remarks.     You  know  what  I  mean '" 

stand  that  I  am  free  to  go  where  I  please  and  yhhtrho  I  please  >' 
I  am  then  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  forbiddina  yon  thh 
bouse,"  said  Mrs.  Walters  with  more  determination'  tha^  o': 
would  expect  from  her  usually  gentle  manner,-  "I  shall  give 
orders  at  once  to  that  effect."  ^ 

"  In  that  case,  madam,"  said  Herbert  going  to  the  door  "  I 
must  only  try  to  see  Bessy  by  other  means-that  is,  if  I  Lv' 
to  see  her.    Good  evening,  Mrs.  Walters '" 

"  Mr.  Herbert!"  said  the  lady  moving  a  step  or  two  nearer 
h.m,  "you  are,  then,  bent  on  justifying  all  the  evil  tl,h " 
heard  said  of  you  ?"  ^ 

aiarra.       What  did  you  hear,  then  ?" 

myself  I  hoped  and  do  still  ho;>o  better  things  of  von  Mr 
Herbert-see  that  you  do  not  deceive  my  ex,>o;tation;  - 
Herbert  eagerly  approached  her,  his  whole  face  lit  un  with 

wnat  you  heard  of  me  V 


THE    IRISH    GIRL   IN    AMERICA. 


71 


"  t  hare  told  you  so,"  said  Mrs.  Walters  much  snrpriHod  by 
his  sudden  change  of  manner. 

"  Then,  upon  my  word  and  honor,  madam,  your  good  opinion 
shall  not  be  thrown  away.  It  is  something  to  know  that  one 
pure,  and  good,  and  generous  as  you  still  entertains  hopes  of 
me.  Adieu,  Mrs.  Walters!"  and  taking  her  hand  he  bowed 
respectfully  over  it.  "  Your  charity  makes  me  think  better  of 
mankind,  and  it  may  be  that  you  have  saved  me  from  ruin. 
Be  so  good  as  to  tell  Bessy  that  I  will  not  forget  her,  but  that 
I  will  trouble  her  no  more  till— till— oh !  I  cannot  say  when !" 

lie  opened  the  door  very  quickly  and  was  gone  before  Mrs. 
Walters  had  recovered  sufficiently  from  her  surprise  to  attempt 
an  answer.  Slowly  she  retraced  her  way  up  stairs,  thinking 
of  what  she  should  say  to  Bessy,  and  wondering  whether 
Herbert  would  keep  liis  word. 

"  Was  it  Mr.  Herbert,  ma'am  i"  said  Bessy  timidly,  after 
waiting  a  little  to  see  if  her  mistress  would  give  the  informa- 
tion voluntarily. 

"  It  was,  Bessy,"  Mrs.  Walters  replied,  "  but  I  trust  we  have 
seen  the  last  of  him.  I  gave  him  to  understand  very  jdpinly 
that  as  you  cannot  receive  his  visits  without  impropriety,  he 
cannot  be  allowed  to  continue  them." 

"  And  what  did  he  say,  ma'am  1" 

"Oh J  he  said  what  I  took  for  a  promise  that  he  would 
ti'ouble  you  no  more." 

Mrs.  Walters  was  much  relieved  when  Bessy  clasped  her 
hands  and  fervently  thanked  God.  "  And  I'm  thankful  to  you, 
too,  Mrs.  Walters,"  she  added  with  unmistakeable  sincerity,  her 
eyes  full  of  tears,  "  I'm  thankful  for  the  trouble  yon  have 
taken— you  don't  know  how  glad  I  am  !" 

A  little  while  after  Bessy  descended  to  the  kitchen  and  was 
surprised  to  find  all  thery  \n  an  uproar.  Cook,  housemaid, 
and  liurse,  were  talking  at  uUt!  U)p  of  their  voice,  while  Wash, 
the  colored  man,  sat  grin nKn;.',  ;l  a  corner  enjoying  the  fun. 


V2 


BE3SY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


for  She  was  instantly  appealed  to  by  Sally,  the  houaomald,  wno 
was  dressed  for  going  out.  "  Now,  Bessy,  a'nt  this  too  bad  1— 
a'ntit?" 

"  I  say  it's  mean"— criod  the  cook  much  excited. 

"  That  is  it?"  slipped  in  Bessy. 

"  Why,  only  think  !"— exclaimed  Sally,  with  a  very  emphatic 
gesture,  "  hero  am  I  dressed  to  go  out,  and  Mrs.  Hibbard  sends 
down  word  that  I  can't  go  this  evening." 

"  And  her  evening  out !"  put  in  the  nurse. 

"  And  her  beau  coming  to  take  her  to  a  dance !"  shU  cook. 

"Guess  Jim  won't  like  it,"  said  darkey  maliciously- 
"shouldn't  wonder  if  he  took  another  gal  for  spite." 

"  Ho  a'nt  going  to  have  the  chance,"  said  Sally,  drawing  on 
her  light  kid  glove  with  a  very  determined  air;  "  I'll  go'^if  I 
lose  my  place  for  it.  I  a'nt  so  green  that  folks  cars  treat  mo 
so,"  and  she  shook  out  the  folds  of  her  plaid  silk  dress  as 
though  it  were  a  flag  of  defiance.  "  A  nice  thing  indeed  to  be 
told  that  you  can't  go  out,  when  you've  had  the  trouble  of 
dressing." 

But,  dear  me !"  said  Bessy,  when  she  could  get  in  a  word, 
"  why  didn't  you  ask  leave  to  go  out  before  you  dressed  ?" 

"Ask  leave  indeed!"  repeated  Sally  with  a  disdainful  toss 
of  her  head  ;  "  I  tell  you  it's  my  evening  out,  and  if  Mrs.  Hib- 
bard expects  company,  Ellen  can  do  what  is  to  be  done." 
Ellen  was  silent  but  Bessy  spoke. 

"  Why,  how  can  Ellen  bo  down  stairs,  Sally?  don't  you  knoN> 
Miss  Lizzy  is  very  sick,  and  the  poor  child  doesn't  like  to  bo 
leftalonel" 

"  Well !  it  a'nt  any  matter  about  that,  I'm  going  out  if  Jim 
comes !" 

"  I  would,  if  I  was  you !"  said  cook.  "  I'd  let  them  .seo  that 
I'd  have  my  rights  !" 

"  Sartin !"  chimed  in  Wash  with  his  broad  grin  ;  "  I  go  in  for 
having  one's  rights !    This  is  a  free  country  !" 

While  Bessy  was  examining  with  curious  eyes  the  various 


THE    IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA. 


78 


Row-gaws  which  went  to  make  up  Sally's  flaunting  attire,  a 
knock  came  to  the  basement  door,  and  the  parlor  bell  rang  'at 
the  same  moment. 

Wash  hastening  to  the  door  ushered  into  the  kitchen  a 
strapping  young  man  with  a  huge  black  moustadio,  who 
proved  to  be  the  identical  Jim  for  whom  Sally  was  waiUng. 
Whilst  greetings  were  exchanged  all  round,  the  bell  rang  again 
and  great  excitement  followed. 
"  There  now !  who  is  to  answer  the  bell  1"  said  cook. 
"  Why,  Ellen,  who  else  V  said  Sally. 

"  Well,  but,  what  will  I  say  if  she  asks  why  you  didn't 
cornel"  said  Ellen  to  Sally. 

Before  Sally  could  answer  Mrs.  Hibbard's  voice  was  heard 
on  the  basement  stairs.  "  Are  you  all  asleep  here,  or  what  is 
the  matter  ?"  She  came  to  the  kitchen-door  and  looked  in. 
"  Why,  Ellen,  I  thought  you  were  in  the  nursery.  That  poor 
sick  child  ought  not  to  be  left  alone." 
Ellen  disappeared. 

"But,  Sally!"  said  Mrs.  3ibbard,  "you  are  not  going  out, 
are  you,  after  the  message  I  sent  you  "" 

Wliatever  Sally  might  have  done  at  another  time,  she  cer- 
tainly would  not  give  in  before  Jim.    "  I  guess  I  am,  Mrs. 
Hibbard!"  she  said  with  unblushing  confidence,  "it's  my' even- 
ing out,  you  know!'' 
"  Yes,  but  I  want  you  in  th#»  house  !" 

"  I  can't  help  tliat,  Mrs.  HiLoard !  you  might  have  told  me 
before." 

"  I  thought  it  unnecessaty  to  tell  you  to  stay  in  this  evening 
for  I  thought  you  knew  that  I  expected  company.  Ellen  hav"- 
ing  the  children  to  see  to  cannot  wait  on  the  door,  or  the  com- 
pany either,  and  Bridget  has  her  own  work  to  do  in  the  kitchen." 

"  Well,  Mrs.  Hibbard !  it  a'nt  any  use  talking— my  brother 
has  come  after  me  and  go  I  must.  Come  along,  Jim !  I  guosa 
mother  will  be  most  frozen  waiting  for  us." 


74 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR. 


Jim  looked  at  Wash  and  stroked  down  his  black  moustache 
and  Wash  put  his  finger  to  his  flat  noso  with  sly  meanlnrr 

"Very  Avell,  Sally!"  said  Mrs.  Hibbard  as  she  left  the 
kitchen,  "  you  need  not  return  here  to-night.  Come  to-mor- 
row  for  your  things,  and  I  will  pay  yoxx-what  I  owe  yoxC^ 
There  was  a  meaning  in  the  last  words  that  Sally  alone  under- 
stood.  Mrs.  Hibbard  did  not  owe  her  one  cent.  Ifcr  last 
month's  wages  hung  on  the  back  of  her  head  in  the  shape  oi  a 
stylish  bonnet.     Still  she  would  have  "  the  bully  word." 

"You  needn't  a  told  me  to  leave,  Mrs.  Hibbard,"  she  .said 
sailing  out  of  the  kitchen  with  Jim  in  tow;  "  it  a'nt  hard  to 
get  a  better  place  than  yours  !" 

Mrs.  Hibbard  walked  up  stairs  after  telling  Bessy  that  she 
would  ask  Mrs.  Walters  to  allow  her  to  take  Sally's  place  that 
evening. 

"  By  Gosh  !"  said  Wash,  shaking  his  woolly  head  very  gravolv 
"  by  Gosh !  I  tink  Sally's  a  knocking  her  head  agin  de  wall 
dis  time  ! — hu  !  hu  I  hu !" 

Bessy  had  been  a  silent  and  curious  witness  of  this  scene 
She  looked  and  listened  like  one  in  a  dream.    When   the 
kitchen  was  again  quiet,  she  said  in  an  absent  way  as  if  fol- 
lowing the  train  of  her  own  thoughts : 

"  My  goodness  !  isn't  Sally  the^queor  girl  all  out  ?" 

'I  What  do  you  say  that  for  1"  demanded  cook  sharply. 

"Why,  sure  no  one  in  their  senses  would  go  on  that  way 
What  right  had  she  to  go  out  when  her  mistress  wanted  her  hi 
the  house  1" 

"What  n-ght  had  she?"  exclaimed  Bridget  placing  her  arms 
a-kimbo ;  "  why.  she  had  every  right  l-didn't  you  hear  that 
It  was  her  evening  to  go  out  1" 

"  To  be  sure  I  heard  it,"  Bessy  replied  very  gently,  "  but 
what  of  that  ?  Couldn't  she  stay  at  home  for  this  one  evonin^r  1 
Maybe  she'd  be  better  off  if  she  staid  in  every  evening  "       " 

"  That's  nothing,"  said  Bridget,  »  a  bargain's  a  bargain,  aud 


THE   IRISH   GIRL    IN    AMERICA, 


16 


I  guess  I'd  havo  told  Mrs.  IliL  rd  her  own  if  I  was  in  Sally's 
place.  /  wouldn't  have  let  her  off  so  easy  !  Company  indeed ! 
it's  bothered  we  are  with  her  old  company  !" 

"Well,  Bridget!  after  that,"  began  Bessy,  but  the  door- 
bell rang  at  the  moment,  and  she  ran  up  stairs  to  answer  it, 
saying  to  herself  as  she  hurried  along  the  hall :  "Are  they 
lot<'u'  their  senses,  or  what's  the  matter  with  them  at  all  V 

Next  day  towards  evening  when  Sally  came  for  her  clothes 
she  appeared  a  differe,,u  person  altogether.  It  was  a  dreary, 
drizzling  day,  and  she  looked  cold  and  miserable.  Havinfr  sot 
her  things  together  she  brought  them  down  to  the  kitnhen, 
and,  drawing  a  chair  in  front  of  the  bright  cheerful  fire,  com- 
menced a  whispered  colloquy  with  Bridget,  who  sat  picking 
feathers  near  the  range. 

"  What  on  earth  am  I  to  do,"  said  Sally,  "  I  haven't  got  but 
fifty  cents  in  the  world,  and  I  must  give  that  to  the  man  in  the 
office !" 

"  A'nt  there  anything  coming  to  you  here  V 

"  Not  a  red  cent.  Do  you  think  you  could  lend  me  a  dollar 
or  two  till  such  times  as  I  get  a  place  1" 

"  I  wish  to  God  I  could,  Sally,  but  you  know  I  sent  home 
all  I  could  scrape  together  last  week." 

"  Lord  bless  me !  what  will  I  do,  at  all  1  Do  you  think  Mrs. 
Hibbard  would  take  me  back  1" 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know.    You  might  try  her,  anyhow." 

A  bright  thought  struck  Sally,  and  up  stairs  she  went,  on 
and  on  till  she  came  to  Mrs.  Walters'  room,  where  she  knocked 
at  tho  door,  and  was  admitted  by  Bessy,  who  looked  at  her 
with  surprise. 

"  Dear  me!  what  is  she  about  1"  thought  Bessy,  as  she  cast 
her  eyes  compassionately  over  her  draggled  apparel. 

The  object  of  Sally's  visit  was  to  solicit  Mrs.  Walters'  inter- 
cession with  her  justly-ofTended  mistress. 

"  Well,  really,  Sally !"  said  Mrs.  Walters  very  gravely,  "  I 


76 


BESSV   CONWAY  ;    OR, 


can  hardly  make  up  my  mfnd  to  do  it.  I  am  sorry  for  you- 
very  Borry  indeed-but  from  what  Mrs.  Hibbard  told  mo  I 
think  you  were  very  much  to  blame.  You  had  a  good  place 
of  It  here,  and  you  have  lost  it  by  your  own  fault.  What 
dependence  could  Mrs.  Hibbard  ever  place  in  you  after  your 
conduct  of  last  night  V 

"  Well,  ma'am,"  said  Sally  with  a  very  humble,  penitent  air 
•  if  Mrs.  Hibbard  will  only  forgive  me  this  once,  I  will  promise 
never  to  do  so  again.    Won't  you  ask  her,  Mrs.  Walters  1    I'U 
just  tell  you  the  truth,  ma'am!  I  han't  got  any  money  to 
pay  my  board." 

"  You  should  have  thought  of  that  in  time,"  said  Mrs.  Wal- 
ters, but  her  kind  heart  was  touched,  and  she  told  Sally  to  go 
down  stairs  and  wait.  She  would  go  and  speak  to  Mrs.  Hib- 
bard  and  see  what  could  be  done.  Depending  on  Sally's  pro- 
mises, her  mistress  took  her  back  at  Mrs.  Walter's  request  to 
give  her  another  trial. 

Bessy  saw  and  I  ard  all  this,  and  she  laid  i.  up  in  her  heart 
as  a  useful  lessor,'. 


^1  m  t% 


VF.   IRISH   GIRL    i.M    AMERICA. 


It 


CHAPTER  VI. 

For  a  Bhort  time  all  went  on  well  in  Mrs.  llibbard's  house- 
hold, and  Sally  was  over  so  attentive  to  her  duties.  She  had 
received  a  ci  hint  from  her  mistress  that  brothers  with  black 
moustaches  wmo  not  at  all  donirable  about  the  kitchen.  "  You 
have  sumciont  opportunity  to  see  your  friends,  both  male  and 
female,  having  Thursday  evening  to  yourself,  and  also  every 
second  Sunday  afternoon— let  that  suffice,  for  I  really  canno't 
allow  you  to  .see  your  company  in  my  kitchen." 

Sulky  and  silent  Sally  flounced  out  of  the  room,  but  when 
she  got  to  the  lower  regions  she  made  ample  amends  for  the 
temporary  restraint  she  had  imposed  upon  herself. 

"  Well  there!"  said  she  in  a  towering  passion,  flinging  down 
her  dustpan  and  brush  on  the  table  where  Bridget  was  prepar- 
ing something  for  the  oven,  "  well  there  !  if  that  a'nt  the  mean- 
est thing  !'• 

"  What  place  is  that  for  your  dustpan  and  brusn  1"  cried 
Bridget,  and  she  in  her  turn  flung  them  on  the  floor. 

"  I  don't  care  a  snap,"  went  on  SaP  ,  "  I  say  I  won't  put  up 
with  it!'- 

"Dear  me,  Sally,  what's  the  matter  1"  said  Bessy,  who 
chanced  to  be  present. 

"  What's  wrong  with  you  now  f"  said  Bridget. 

"  Why,  she's  just  after  telling  me  we  can't  hava  folks  come 
to  see  us  here  any  more— especially  '  male  relaiiotis,' "  and 
sLe  mlraicked  Mis.  Hlbbard's  voice  to  such  perfection  that 


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18 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


Bridget  laughed  heartily.  "  She  says  we  can  see  them  when 
we  go  out.  No  thanks  to  her  for  that !  I  toll  you  I'm  real 
mad!" 

"  That's  all  along  of  your  carrying  on !"  said  Bridget  angrily, 
"  it  was  your  sa'ce  that  did  it,  and  now  other  folks  must  sufFer 
for  your  doings  !  Well !  I  an't  a-going  to  tell  wiy  beau  any 
such  a  thing.  Let  her  tell  him  herself  if  she  has  a  mind  to,  and 
I  shan't  stay  another  hour  in  her  house  after  it.  I  an't  a  green- 
horn to  let  folks  walk  right  over  me.  I  know  my  riglita,  and 
I'll  have  them,  too,  and  if  she  says  one  word  to  Tom  next  time 
he  comes,  won't  she  catch  it  1" 

Bridget  was  just  as  angry  as  Sally,  and  both  talking  at  the 
top  of  their  voice  it  was  a  perfect  confusion  of  tongues. 

One  thing,  however,  was  sufficiently  plain  to  Bessy,  namely, 
that  the  knight  of  the  black  moustache  was  no  brother  of 
Sally's.  As  soon  as  she  could  edge  in  a  word  she  ventured  to 
say,  "  Why,  I  thought  that  was  your  brother  that  came  for 
you  the  other  night " 

"  Brother,  indeed !"  said  both  in  a  breath,  "just  as  if  folks 
minded  brothers !" 

"  But  why  did  you  tell  Mrs.  Hibbard  he  was,  Sally  ?" 

"  Shut  up !"  cried  Sally,  "  it  an't  any  business  of  yours  ',— 
what  does  a  greenhorn  like  you  know  ?" 

Bessy,  of  course,  gave  in  that  she  knew  nothing,  and  was 
right  glad  to  escape  to  her  own  part  of  the  house.  Mrs. 
Walters  saw  that  she  looked  flurried  and  asked  what  was  the 
matter. 

"  Not  Mr.  Herbert  again,  I  hope  1" 

"  Lord  bless  me,  no,  ma'am ! — its  only  the  girls  below  that  I 
may  say  hunted  me  out  of  the  kitchen  just  for  one  word  I  said, 
and  I'm  sure  I  had  no  harm  in  it  either!" 

Mrs.  Walter  smiled.  "  Oh !  if  that  be  all,  Bessy,  I  am  well 
content    You  will  soon  learn  to  hold  your  own  with  them." 

"Well!  I  don't  know,  ma'am,"  said  Bessy  with  a  puzzled 
air,  "Fmafeard  that's  what  I'll  never  do."'"'    She  was  thinking 


THE   IRISH   GIRL    IN    AMERICA. 


19 


of  another  day  wlien  she  had  taken  a  strong  pair  of  boots  of 
her  mistress  down  stairs  to  polish,  when  Bridget  and  Sally 
both  fell  upon  her.  One  asked  what  business  she  had  cleaning 
boots  in  her  kitchen,  and  the  other  took  her  to  task  for  doing 
them  at  all,  telling  her  it  was  the  likes  of  her  that  spoiled 
ladies,  doing  what  they  had  no  right  to  do.  Couldn't  she  leave 
them  for  Washl  Yes,  but  her  mistress  was  going  out  and 
wanted  the  boots  and  Wash  was  not  in.  No  matter,  she  must 
not  attempt  to  come  there  again  to  clean  boots,  if  she  wanted 
60  bad  to  make  herself  busy  and  do  dirty  work,  she  might  do 
it  up  stairs  in  her  own  place — that  was  all.  With  this  fresh 
in  her  mind  Bessy  answered  her  mistress  in  a  very  desponding 
tone,  but  still  she  could  not  bring  herself  to  tell  matters  in 
their  worst  light. 

Sunday  came  round  at  last,  and  somehow  Bossy  thought  the 
week  had  been  long,  long  in  passing.  She  had  asked  Mrs,  Wal- 
ters over  night  what  hour  would  be  most  convenient  for  her  to  go 
to  Mass,  and  agreeable  to  her  instructions,  went  to  eight  o'clock 
Ma^s  in  St.  .James's  Church.  On  her  return  she  found  a  storm 
raging  down  stairs.  Bridget  was  alarmingly  hurried  trying  to 
got  the  breakfast  and  scolding  might  and  main  because  Sally 
wasn't  in  to  help  her. 

"What's  the  matter,  Bridget!"  inqiiired  Bessy  with  her 
sweetest  smile. 

"  Oh !  it's  easy  for  you  to  say  that,"  snapped  Bridget,  "  it's 
well  for  you  folks  that  can  get  out  when  you  ploaso,  here's 
myself  working  like  a  nigger  to  get  breakfast  for  you  all,  and 
Mrs.  Hibbard  is  angry  because  it  an't  in  sooner." 

"  Wliat  Mass  did  you  go  to  1"  said  Bessy,  naturally  suppos- 
ing that  she  had  got  in  too  late. 

"  Mass  indeed !  how  would  /  get  to  Maps  !  don't  you  think 
I've  enough  to  do  to  see  to  the  breakfast.  Half-past  eight 
soon  comes  these  short  mornings." 

"  But  my  goodness!  why  didn't  you  get  up  and  go  to  six 
o'clock  Massl"  said  Bessy  in  utter  amazement;  "you'd  have 


80 


BESSY    CONWAY;     OR, 


been   back  at  eeven,  and   have   plenty  of  time  to  do  your 
work."  ' 

"  Nonsense !  child,  don't  be  talking  like  a  fool !  How  could 
/be  getting  up  of  a  morning  like  this  In  time  to  go  out  at  six  'i 
I  te  you  it  a'nt  possible  for  anybody  in  this  kitchen  to  get  out 
at  all  to  Mass  !"  ^ 

_    "But  didn't  I  hear  you  s.tying  before  now  that  there's  Mass 
in  bt.  Mary's  Church  in  Grand  street  at  nine  o'clock  V 
"  I  guess  there  is." 

''  Couldn't  you  try,  then,  and  go  to  that  1  when  breakfast  is 

at  half-past  eight,  I'm  sure  you  could." 

Bridgot.  driven  to   extremity,  turned   sharp  round  at  last. 

Will  you  not  be  botherin' me,  EeRsy  Conway  ?     Mind  your 

own  business,  and  maybe  you'll  fird  it  enough!    God  doesn't 

expect  impossibilities  !" 

^    "  Oh  !  I  know  that  well,  glory  be  to  His  name !"  said  Bessy 
'but  It's  not  an  impossibility  for  you  to  hear  Mass~I  think 
It's  your  own  lault  if  you  don't!" 

This  made  Bridget  furious.  "  I  vow  to  God  I'll  scaM  you  " 
she  almost  shrieked ;  "  if  you're  wise  you'll  get  out  of  my  way » 
do  you  think  I  have  nothing  elso  to  do  but  listen  to  yoTir 
chat?"  ^ 

"  Well !  well !  Bridget,  I'll  say  no  more,"  said  Bessy  mildly 
"  I  suppose  Sally  is  out  ?"  ' 

"  I  guess  she's  gone  to  St.  Mary's,"  said  Bridget,  a  little 
molliflod  by  Bessy's  gentleness  ;  "  she  went  out  just  before  i/ou 
came  in." 

"  Why,  she'll  be  too  late  even  for  nine,  then?" 
"  That's  her  own  business,"  retorted  Bridget,  "not  yours  or 
mme.     There!   if  I  wasn't  near  scalding  myself  badly- now 
just  get  along  up  stairs,  will  you  1   .That's  all  your  doinafi  i" 

This  new  version  of  the  wolf  and  the  lamb  of  course  sent^Bessy 
up  stairs  withe  at  further  delay,  and  she  vowed  thit  it  would 
be  a  long  day  before  she  undertook  to  admonish  Bridget 
again.     She  could  not  help  reasoning  with  herself  on  what  was 


THE    IRISH    GIRL   IN    AMERICA. 


81 


to  her  so  passing  strange.  "  Now,"  thought  she,  "  isn't  it 
curious  1  For  tho  little  I've  seen  of  Bridget,  I  really  think 
she's  au  honest,  decent  giil,  for  all  her  bad  temper,  and  then 
see  how  she  sends  so  much  of  her  earnings  home  to  her  mother, 
still  she  thinks  nothing  of  losing  Mass  on  a  Sunday  !  Well ! 
God  help  her !  more's  the  pity !" 

It  appealed  <hat  Bridget  complained  to  Sally  on  her  return 
thai  Bessy  had  been  making  herself  busy  in  their  affairs, 
whereupon  Sally  took  the  frst  opportunity  of  rating  her 
Boundly.  , 

"Now  I'm  just  going  vo  give  you  one  advice,  Bessy!"  said 
she  when,  the  family  and  Mrs.  Walters  b'^ing  gone -to  Cnu'-ch, 
they  found  themselves  alone  together  up  stairs.  "  As  long  as 
you  and  I  are  in  one  house,  don't  ever  dare  to  pass  any  re- 
marks on  me,  whether  I  go  to  Mass  or  not.  I  guess  you  won't 
have  to  answer  for  my  soul,  so  it  an't  any  business  of  yours  !" 

"Well,  but,  Sally,"  said  Bessy  kindly  and  soothinTly,  "  be- 
tween ourselves,  now,  isn't  it  a  great  sin,  ay',  and  a  great 
ehame  to  be  so  careless  5,bout  hearing  Mass  on  Sunday,  when 
you  know  the  obligation  that's  on  you  1" 

At  this  Sally  turned  and  fixed  her  eyes  disdainfully  on  Bessy. 

"I  guess  there  are  some  folks  that  never  lose  Mass  that 
a'nt  any  better  than  other  folk  that  a'nt  so  very  partic'lar. 
But  to  be  sure  it's  a  fine  thing  for  a  girl  living  out  to  have 
gentlemen,"  laying  a  bitter  emphasis  on  the  word,  "  coming  to 
see  her !  x  guess  we  a'nt  blind  anyhow — we've  got  eyes  as 
well  as  others,  and  can  see  folks  parading  up  and  down  in 
front  of  the  house  most  every  evening — ha !  h<:i !  that  brings 
the  blood  to  your  face! — you  see  folks  here  are  wide  awake, 
Be^y  Conway,  so  you'd  better  look  out  for  what  concerns 
yourself,  and  let  others  alone!"  She  flounced  away  with 
hev  broom  in  her  hand,  and  banged  a  neighboring  door  attek- 
her. 

Bessy  was,  indeed,  startled  by  what  she  had  heard.  Was 
Herbert  still  koepiag  hor  ia  mind,  then,  and  haiiiiting  like  a 


82 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;    OR. 


ghost  on  her  account  the  house  which  he  might  not  enter? 
There  was  something  in  the  thought  that  pleased  hor  she 
dared  not  think  why,  though  it  grieved  her,  too,  to  find  that 
"  the  landlord's  son"  was  still  making  so  little  of  himself  and 
the  people  he  helonged  to. 

In  the  afternoon  she  got  leave  from  her  mistress  to  go  out, 
and  after  Vespers  she  thought  she  would  go  and  see  how  Mrs! 
Sheehan  was  getting  on.  She  found  the  eld  woman  all  alone 
and  saying  her  beads,  while  hor  plaintive  moans  and  the  tears 
that  streamed  profusely  from  her  eyes  showed  that  Philip's 
eternal  weal  wa&  the  object  of  her  supplication. 

Bessy  paused  at  the  door  and  peeped  in.  Deeply  touched 
by  the  sight  of  the  old  woman's  grief,  and  respecting  her 
pious  occupation,  she  hesitated  whether  to  go  in  or  no°t,  but 
the  sound  of  a  heavy  foot  on  the  stairs  behind  decided  hLr  at 
once  and  in  she  went  with  the  old  familiar  greeting,  "  God 
save  all  here." 

"  God  save  you  kindly !"  said  Dolly,  crossing  herself  with 
her  beads,  and  rising  with,  the  aid  of  a  chair  at  which  she  had 
been  kneeling.  She  did  not  at  first  recognize  her  visitor,  and 
raised  her  hand  to  shade  her  tear-dimmed  eyes  as  she  peered 
into  the  smiling  face  before  her.  At  last  Bessy  laughed  out 
an.^  asked  did  she  not  know  her. 

"  Why,  dear  bless  me !  is  it  you,  Bessy  Conway  1  "\Visha, 
then,  but  I'm  overjoyed  to  see  you.  Sit  down,  alanna  ma- 
chree !  and  take  an  air  of  the  fire." 

Bessy  did  so,  and  asked  how  Paul  was. 

"  He's  w^ll,  I'm  obliged  to  you-but,  indeed,  I'm  afeard  he's 
workin'  too  hard.  It  comes  heavy  on  the  creature  to  pay  for 
the  room  and  keep  two  of  us  up-it  makes  myself  ashamed,  so 
It  does!  for  sure  I  know  well  enough  I'm  a  heavy  burthen  on 
him,  poor  man !" 

"  You  would  be,  siipposin'  I  had  you  on  my  back,"  said 
Paul  himself  as  he  stumped  into  the  room,  "  ^deed  you  would, 
Mrs.  Sheehan,  ma'am !  on  account  of  the  load  I  have  on  it 


THE    IRISH    GIRL    IN    AMERICA. 


83 


ali'eady.    Why,  Bessy  Conway  !  is  this  yourself  1  how  does  the 
world  use  you  these  times  1" 

"  Well !  I  can't  complain,  Paul !  I'd  be  well  off  entirely  if  I 
only  had  my  people  near  me,  hut  it's  a  lonesome  thing  to  be 
among  strangers  ;  no  matter  how  good  they  are  still  you  can't 
open  your  mind  to  them  and  make  free  with  them  as  you 
would  with  your  own." 

"  True  for  you,  ma  colleen  dhas  !"  said  old  Dolly  with  great 
feeling. 

"  What  about  Master  Henry  ?"  asked  Paul  in  a  low  voice. 

"  What  about  him,  Paul  1"  said  Bessy  in  some  alarm ;  "  why 
what  do  /  know  about  him  1"  * 

"  You  never  see  him,  then  V 

"  No  more  than  I  see  them  that's  in  Ireland !  Do  you— do 
you  ever  see  him  yourself  any  time  V  she  added  with  some 
hesitation. 

"  Of  an  odd  time  I  do,"  said  Paul  elevating  his  eyebrows 
with  a  comical  gesture ;  "  he's  mighty  bad  with  an  old  com- 
plaint that  foUied  him  at  home." 

"  An  old  complaint!"  cried  Bessy,  her  cheek  pale  as  ashes  ; 
"  Lord  bless  me  !  what  is  itl" 

"  Oh  !  it's  one  that  won't  kill  him— don't  be  afeard !"  said 
Paul  coolly  and  with  keen  irony ;  "  all  the  doctors  in  New  York 
couldn't  cure  him— no,  nor  you  either,  Bessy  Conway!  for  he 
had  it  long  before  ever  he  seen  you  !" 

Bessy's  face  was  covered  with  blushes  at  this  broad  hint 
"  Me  cure  him !  why,  Lord  bless  me,  Paul !  what  virtue  have 
I  to  cure  any  one!— sure  enough  you're  the  quarest  man 
livin'."  Then  disguising  her  emotion,  she  said  with  a  view 
to  change  the  subject : 

"  now  is  Ned  Finigan  doin',— and  the  Murphys  1" 

"  All  well,  and  doing  well—'  like  the  people  in  America,'  as 
they  used  to  say  at  home.  Ned  has  a  fine  liquor  store  of  it 
somewhere  about  Prince  street.  I  b'lieve  they're  goin'  to  have 
a  dance  there  soon  for  a  house- warminw." 


84 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"  I  must  go  and  see  thcra  next  Sunday  if  I  get  out,"  said 
Bessy,  "  but  I  wanted  to  call  and  see  Mary  Murphy  tlie  day,  for 
Bhe  was  up  two  or  three  times  to  see  me.  God  be  with  you  all 
till  I  see  you  again  !" 

"  I  say,  Bessy!"  said  Paul  hurrying  after  her  to  the  staim, 
and  raising  himself  on  his  toes  to  get  to  her  ear,  "  take  care 
of  them  you  know!" 

"  Why,  botheration  to  you,  Paul !  was  that  all  you  had  to 
say  1"  and  Bessy  ran  down  stairs  in  a  real  or  pretented  pout, 
the  dwarf's  discordant  laugh  ringing  in  her  ears  till  she  reached 
the  door. 

"  Ah,  then,  now,"  said  she  to  herself  as  she  hurried  along 
the  narrow,  crowded  side-walk  in  the  direction  of  Chatham 
square,  "  ah,  then,  now,  isn't  it  a  hard  case  that  he's  a-throwing 
in  my  face  go  where  I  will,  an'  me  never  sees  a  sight  of  him. 
It's  no  wonder  I  was  afeard  of  remarks  bein'  passed,  for  I  see  I 
can't  escape  people's  tongues  as  long  as  himself  and  me  are 
in  the  same  city."  And  the  tears  rushed  to  her  eyes.  She 
hastily  raised  her  gloved  hand  to  wipe  them  away,  when  a  well- 
known  voice  accosted  her  with : 

"  Bessy !  my  poor  Bessy !  what's  the  matter  V  The  words 
were  almost  spoken  in  a  whisper,  but  Bessy  heard  every  syl- 
lable, and  she  feared  to  raise  her  eyes  or  give  any  sign  of 
recognition,  for  she  knew  it  was  Henry  Herbert  that  spoke, 
and  she  began  to  have  an  instinctive  notion  that  prying  eyes 
were  ever  upon  her,  and  ears  ever  open  to  find  pretence  for 
insinuation. 

"  Go  away  for  God's  sake !"  she  said  wilhoiit  looking  up,  and 
she  walked  on  faster  than  ever. 

"Are  you  almost  tired  of  service  yef?"  said  the  soothing 
voice  again,  and  still  at  her  side. 

*'  No,  no,  if  you^d  only  let  me  alone.  For  the  love  of  Heaven, 
go  away,  or  I'm  ruined  entirely.  You  don't  know  what  I  have 
to  suffer  on  account  of  you  '" 


TIIK    IRISH    GIRL    IN'    AMERICA 


85 


"  Novor  mind,  Bessy  !  you'll  got  over  it  all— I  don't  pity  you 
now,  though,  for  the  fault  is  your  own!" 

Involuntarily  she  raised  her  eyes  to  his  face,  and  she  thought 
it  was  paler  and  thinner  than  usual.  Paul's  words  immediately 
occurred  to  her,  and  she  forgot  for  a  moment  her  own  concerns 
in  anxiety  for  his  health. 

"Dear  me!  Master  Henry!  I'm  afeard  there's  something 
the  matter  with  you.     It's  true  enough,  then,  what  Paul  said  1" 

"  What  Paul  said ;  What  did  he  sayl"  demanded  Herbert 
quickly,  and  if  his  face  was  pale  before  it  was  rod  enough  then. 
"  What  did  he  tell  you,  Bessy  V 

"  Why  nothing  that  was  any  harm.  Master  Henry,  so  don't 
be  angry!" 

"  What  did  he  say  1    Let  me  hear  it  at  once  !" 

"  Bless  me  !  he  only  said  that  you  were  troubled  with  an  old 
complaint  of  yours  since  you  came  to  New  York  !  I'm  sure 
that  was  no  harm." 

Herbert  laughed  scornfully.  "  Oh  I  of  course  not.  But 
what  complaint  did  he  say  it  was  V 

"  Well !  he  didn't  mention  any  in  particular— he  only  said 
that  it  was  ore  the  doctors  couldn't  cure— I  suppose  he  meant 
the  doctors  here  !"  she  added  by  way  of  apology,  but  glancing 
timidly  up  in  Herbert's  face,  she  shuddered  to  see  the  dark 
scowl  that  was  on  his  brow.  His  eyes  we're  like  living  coals 
and  his  thin  lips  drawn  off  the  teetb  with  a  strange  and 
ghastly  smile. 

" Don't  mind  him,  Bessy!"  ho  said  with  an  absent  air,  as 
though  he  half  forgot  her  presence,  "  he  did  but  jest— go 
home,  Bessy!  it  isn't  well  for  you  to  be  abroad  after  dark. 
I  do  not  offer  to  accompany  you,  for  I  know  it  would  only 
frighten  you  if  I  did.  But  go  home,  I  charge  you,  Bessy! 
lest  evil  come  upon  you.  Such  wickedness  as  you  never 
dreamed  of  roams  abroad  here  under  cover  of  the  night." 

They  had  crossed  the  square  by  this  time,  and  reached  the 
corner  of  Division  street,  Bessy  forgetting  in  her  bewilderment 


8G 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OU, 


that  sho  and  Ilorbert  were  walkin^^  side  by  side.  All  at  onco 
tlio  impropriety  of  the  thing  occurred  to  lior  mind  and  hhe 
stopped.  "  For  the  Lord's  sake,  Master  Henry,  go  away  from 
me!  I'll  never  open  my  lips  to  you,  if  you  como  a  step  fur- 
ther " 

"  I'll  g«,  I'll  go— hut  just  tell  me  where  arp  you  going  1" 
"I  intended  to  go  to  Houston  street  to  sec  Mary  Murpliy, 
but  I'll  not  go  now,  it's  getting  so  late," 

"  Tliat's  right— go  homo  as  fast  as  you  can.  Ha  !"  he  mut- 
tered as  the  girl  turned  to  retrace  her  steps  across  the  square, 
"  ha  !  there  was  no  time  to  lose  ! — my  poor  Bessy  !" 

He  stood  looking  after  her  a  moment  with  a  softened  expres- 
sion,^ then  cast  his  eyes  anxiously  on  a  lall  personage  who 
had  just  turned  the  opposite  corner  from  Catherine  street.  It 
appeared  this  individual  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  Bessy's 
pretty  face  as  she  passed  under  the  lamp,  and  on  reaching  the 
corner  ho  turned  and  walked  rapidly  after  her.  Herbert 
hoped  for  a  moment  that  Bossy  was  not  the  object  of  the  isian's 
pursuit,  but  ho  hoped  in  vain,  for  she  had  not  gone  many 
yards  across  the  square  when  ho  saw  him  accost  her,  bending 
down  to  peep  under  her  bonnet  with  an  impertinent  stare. 
The  girl's  exclamation  of  alarm  was  plainly  heard  by  Herbert 
for  he  was  already  close  behind,  and  the  next  moment  he  laid 
his  hand  on  tho  man's  arm. 

"  I  say,  Dixon,  let  that  girl  alone !"  he  said  in  a  low  but 
determined  tone.  The  other  turned  on  hearing  his  name,  and 
a  sinister  smile  gleamed  across  his  sallow  features. 

"  Ho  !  ho,  Herbert!  is  it  you  !  Am  I  trespassing,  eh"?  By 
Jupiter !  I  admire  your  taste  !— where  did  you  pick  her  up  ?" 
"  Take  care  what  you  say,  Dixon  ]"  said  Herbert,  and  he 
blushed  like  a  young  girl,  "  you're  altogether  mistaken— como 
this  way.  I  have  something  to  tell  you  I"  It  needed  not  (he 
imperative  gesture  which  ho  made  to  induce  Bessy  to  hurry 
away  as  fast  as  her  feet  would  carry  her. 
It  was  hard  to  say  at  the  moment  which  was  uppermost  in 


THE    ini3n   GIRL   IM    AMKHICA. 


87 


hor  mind— gratitude  to  Ilorbort,  or  Borrow  to  llnd  him  oij 
familiar  t^rms  with  a  person  who,  even  to  Ijcr  inoxporienced 
eye,  seemed  anytliing  but  a  good  companion.  Even  the  one 
glance  she  had  dared  to  tako  at  In'.s  face  showed  "  a  laughin^ 
dovil  in  his  sneor"  and  a  look  in  h's  great  black  eyes  that  sho 
could  not  think  of  without  a  shudder. 

"  My  goodness !"  said  she  to  herself,  "  how  did  Master  Ilonry 
fall  in  with  such  company  as  that  1  Tm  alcard— I'm  afeard 
he's  foolish  for  himself." 

She  sighed  heavily  as  this  idea  presented  itself  to  her  mind, 
for  sho  was  thinking  of  the  anxious  care  with  which  ho  had 
been  urging  her  to  go  homo  before  tho  evening  advanced 
farther. 

"IIoAvishes  wffwell,  at  any  rate,"  sho  said  to  herself;  "I 
wish  to  goodness  he  was  only  half  as  particular  in  regard  to 
himself.  Well!  well !  I  suppose  it  can't  be  helped,  but  I  hope 
in  God  he'll  not  be  troublin'  mc  any  more  !" 

Well  pleased  to  find  herself  at  homo  again,  she  opened  tlio 
area  gate  and  was  going  to  knock  at  tho  basement  door  when 
plump  she  came  in  the  dark  archway  against  some  one  stand- 
ing there.  The  exclamation  of  surprise  that  escaped  her  was 
sUfled  by  a  hand  laid  on  her  mouth,  and  a  voice  which  she 
knew  to  be  Sally's  whispered :  "Hush— hush!  not  a  word  for 
your  life!" 

"  Oh !  it's  you,  Sally  I  Well !  I'm  sure,  if  you  didn't  take  a 
start  out  of  me !" 

"Push  the  door  and  go  in!"  said  the Avhispered  voice  again. 

Bessy  did  so,  wondering  much  at  Sally's  standing  out  of 
doors  such  a  night  as  that.  As  she  c'  1  the  door  the  light 
from  the  hall  fell  upon  a  face  with  a  black  moustache  and  a 
pair  of  sharp  eyes  that  certainly  did  not  belong  to  Sally. 

Deeming  it  the  best  of  her  play  to  take  no  notice,  Bessy 
passed  on  up  stairs,  but  just  glanced  into,  the  kitchen  where 
Wash  was  cleaning  knives  and  Bridget  making  some  biscuit 
for  tea.     Both  appeared  much  heated,  which  was  not  sur- 


88 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


priKinjir,  for  thpy  had  been  discuosinK  corfain  points  of  nioralifr 
In  connection  with  roliKion.  and  the  hul>iect  l.oin-  an  exciting 
ono  they  had  Krown  quite  liot  upon  it,  Brid-.^t,  of  course, 
having  the  host  of  the  argument  as  far  as  talk  wont. 

Wash  Mas  not  slow  in  appealing  to  Bessy  m  oxw  who  oii<.ht 
t/*  know.  The  point  under  discunsion  was  whetJior  people 
did  not  pay  to  go  to  confession,  or  a.s  Wash  i.hrasod  it  "  to  cr,-t 
whitewashed." 

"Why  nonsense,  Wash,"  said  Bossy  very  soiioiLsly,  "what 
puta  the  hko  of  that  in  your  head  ?" 

"By  Qosh,  it's  true  enough,"  said  the  nigger  with  a  grave 
shako  of  the  head,  "  didn't  I  near  Rose  Hagcrty  ask  Missis  f<,r 
money  to  go  to  confession." 

"  Now,  Bessy,  how  can  wo  stand  tliat]"  said  Bridget  uitJi  a 
wrathful  look  at  Wash.    "  There's  a  story  for  you  !"  ^ 

"Guess,  /  didn't  make  it,"  returned  the  nigger,  "Rose 
know  what  she  wils  about  well  as  most  people,  and  I  hear  lier 
say  dat  ever  so  often  just  wat  I  tell  you.  'Sposo  the  prie.st 
don't  charge  much  for  lying  or  stealing." 

This  home-thrust  made  Bridget  wince.  "  You  black  devil  " 
she  said  with  rising  choler,  "  you  don't  mean  to  say  any  one 
here  does  one  or  tho  other  1" 

"Can't  say,  Bridget,"  returned  Wash  with  provoking  cool- 
ness; "it  an't  far  from  stealing  to  throw  good  bread  in  the 
dirt-box  and  butter  in  the  grease-pot.  Den  for  lies— gosh  !" 
and  he  chuckled  to  himself  at  the  thought,  "  golly  !  I  hear  aa 

many  told  in  dis  kitchen  as  would  fill  a  barrel ! " 

Bridget  was  speechless  with  anger,  but  Bessy  assured  the 
old  man  that  no  one  ever  paid  anything  for  going  to  confes- 
sion, adding  that  those  who  were  capable  of  making  such  an 
assertion  seldom  troubled  a  priest  at  all. 

"If  they  went  to  confession  regularly,"  said  she,  "as  they 
ought  to  do.  Wash  !  you'd  never  see  them  wasteful  or  extrava- 
gant about  other  people's  things,  or  makin'  free  in  any  way 
with  what  didn't  belong  to  them— no,  nor  you'd  never  hear 


THE    IRIsri   GIRL    IV   AMERICA. 


89 


them  sp.akin'  anything  but  tho  truth,  or  askiu'  for  money  to 
go  to  confession." 

Bessy  waited  for  no  moro  but  hurri.Ml  off  up  .stairs  vrxod 
J^^th  lu^rsolf  for  bavins  dolaye.l  so  long.  At  th.  «a.no  moment 
Mrs.   Il.bbanl  mado  hor  app.aranc..  from  tho  dininjr-room, 

Tt  ;T,.;"  "!7\^'""^'<=-'^»  '">">^o«.  was  on  tJ.o  l,as,Mn..nt  floor. 
Well !  Haid  «he,  '.  I  have  j„st  heard  what  passed  Inne  on 
ho  subject  of  confession,  and  from  my  experience  I  sbould  say 
Bossy  js  r„bt.  Those  .iris  of  whom  you  spoke.  Wasb.  ^■  nro 
about  I.e  n.ost  unj.rincipled  that  I  over  had  in  my  house.  I„ 
fact  I  had  reason  to  know  after.vards  that  on  some  of  tb.-se 
occasions  when  they  asked  money  for  going  to  confession  on 
Saturday  afternoon,  it  was  t  ^  a  dance-houso  or  low  tavern  they 
went  for  an  oveninnr's  amusem.  nt.    Whero  is  Sally  i" 

Wash  lo.dced  at  Bridget  and  Bridget  looked  at  Wash.    Thov 
would  havo  been  in  a  sad  quandary  as  fo  what  they  should 
say,  (  eanng  Sally's  vengeance  in  case  they  told  tho  trutl,  ) 
when  luck,  y  for  them  she  appeared  to  answer  for  herself. 
Whore  have  you  been,  Sally?" 
"  Up  with  Ellen  in  tho  nursery,  ma'am  " 

ofZr""'''  ^'''"  '''^'  "'  '''^'^'''  though  you  had  been  out 
"It's  a  bad  cold  I  havo,  Mra.  Ilibbard." 
"You  should  take  something  for  it-some  hot  gru^l  goin^ 
0  bed."     And  the  lady  returned  to  the  dining-room  where  tl,: 
lamily  were  assembling  for  supper. 

"Ilotgruel-ahem!"  and  Sally  coughed  affectedly,  where- 
upon Bndget  was  seized  with  a  fit  of  laughing.    To  mark  her 
apprec,at.on  of  the  joke  she  gave  Sally  a  thump  on  the  back 
Wash  was  gomg  to  remonstrate,   but  received   peremptory 
orders  to     shut  up,"  and  did  so  accordingly  as  in  duty  bound 


90 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;     OR 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Paul  Brannioan  was  in  no  hurry,  it  would  seem,  to  avail 
himself  of  Ned  Finigan's  invitation  to  call  and  see  "  the  mis- 
tress,'»  for  five,  six,  eight  weeks  had  passed  away  since  The 
Castle  Inn  hy  E.  Finigan  was  first  descried  in  yellow  letters 
on  a  blue  swinging  sign  in  a  street  not  far  from  Prince  street, 
and  yet  Paul  had  never  once  crossed  the  threshold.  Whether 
it  was  on  this  account,  or  from  the  pressure  of  business  attend- 
ing a  dashing  "  opening."  Ned's  visits  to  the  tenement  house  in 
Oliver  street  were  discontinued,  and  so  it  was  that  Paul  and  he 
had  not  seen  each  other  for  the  space  of  time  mentioned. 

One  cold  frosty  evening  towards  the  end  of  January,  Ned  was 
standing  behind  the  counter  dealirg  out  a  something  which  he 
called  brandy  to  ihvQQ  men  whose  begrimed  faces" indicated 
craftsmen,  most  probably  workers  in  iron.    These  were  taking 
"  a  standing  dram"  and  as  yet  they  were  sober,  but  from  the 
room  adjoining  the  shop  came  sounds  which  indicated  that 
men  were  there  who  had  taken  more  than  "  a  standing  dram." 
Paul  Brannigan  shuddered  as  the  sounds  from  withFn  smoto 
his  ear  and  he  shrank  back  in  disgust  from  the  fumes  of  whis- 
key and  tobacco  which  filled  the  place,  but   lie  wanted  to 
speak  with  Ned  and  so  made  up  his  mind  to  wait  awhile  in 
hopes  that  "mine  host"  would  be  disengaged.    Not  sorry  to 
perceive  that  his  entrance  was  unnoticed  by  Ned,  he  quietly 
retired  to  a  corner  where  a  low  bench  ran  along  the  wall,  and 

there  09tflh1iaTio/1  'h;»v.ooi<'  r^.^  i.^ ,-     i.  ■     . 

»,iii..D  ^,.  in^ua-utL  ixti  tuc  pui].- jsu  oi  general  ooserva- 


THE    IRISH    GIRL   IN    AMERICA. 


91 


tion.  He  soon  found  that  Ned's  brandy  was  working  wonders 
on  the  men  at  the  bar.  The  calm  and  rational  way  in 
which  they  had  been  talking  very  soon  gave  way  to  loiider 
tones  and  more  excited  gestures,  together  with  a"  certain  in- 
coherence of  sense  which  struck  Paul  forcibly.  As  their  heads 
grew  muddled  their  hearts  grew  softer;  sundry  expressions 
of  good-will  were  exchanged,  and  hands  were  shook  ever  so 
often  with  wonderful  cordiality.  They  waxed  generous,  too, 
and  must  needs  treat  the  landlord,  ay  !  every  one  of  thorn,  for 
sure  when  one  asked  Ned  to  drink,  another  could  be  no  worse, 
and,  of  course,  Ned  could  refuse  none  without  giving  offence! 
So  he  took  a  small  drop  with  each,  just  for  good-fellowship, 
cracking  jokes  the  while  with  a  fullness  cf  good  humor  and 
pleasantry  that  won  all  hear  s  and  went  tc>  .ablish  his  char- 
acter as  "  a  real  jolly  fellow." 

Meanwhile  others  came  in,  some  passing  on  into  the  room, 
some  taking  their  stand  at  the  counter.  What  with  the  influx 
of  customers  and  the  silver  stream  flowing  therefrom  into  his 
drawer,  and  the  various  "  treats"  which  he  had  been  sharinfr, 
Ned  was  growing  quite  merry  on  it,  and  his  big  heart  expanding 
in  the  warmth  of  the  hour,  he  talked  right  and  left  with  a 
superabundance  of  cordiality  that  would  have  been  quite  re- 
freshing had  his  entertainment  been  nowise  connected  with 
dollars  and  cents. 

Very  soon  Ally  had  to  be  sent  for  to  lend  a  hand  at  the 
bar,  and  Paul  could  hardly  believe  his  eyes  when  he  saw 
her  in  the  full  glory  of  artificial  flowers,  and  ribbons,  and  lace, 
looking  as  consequential  as  that  "  Woman  of  Three  Cows" 
famed  in  Irish  song.  Still  Mistress  Finigan  was  not  above  her 
business,  it  would  seem,  with  all  her  fine  dress,  for  she  went  to 
work  with  right  good  will  to  serve  the  customers  in  waiting. 
Her  quick  eye  was  not  slow  in  perceiving  Paul,  and  her 
exclamation  of  friendly  recognition  made  Ned  aware  of  the 
hunchback's  presence. 
"  So  you've  come  at  laat,"  he  said  in  a  voice  which  somehow 


92 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


sounded  unfamiliar  to  Paul's  ear;  "  well!  it  was  most  time,  but 
no  matter  for  that,  I'm  glad  to  see  you  here.    Come  over  and 
have  something  to  drink!" 
"I  don't  wish  for  anything  at  the  present  time,"  said  Paul 
I  thank  you  all  the  same,  though." 

"  Hut  tut,  man,  the  night's  cold  and  raw,  you'll  be  the  better 
01  a  drop  to  warm  you." 

J'  Well,  do  you  know,  Ned,  I  never  take  liquor  to  warm  me, 
fori  have  a  notion  it  only  makes  one  feel  the  cold  more  after- 
uarcis. 

'I  Well!  honest  man."  said  one  of  those  at  the  counter,  as 
he  turned  a  curious  look  on  Paul,  "  I'd  be  loath  to  say  you  were 
a  fool,  bat,  upon  my  credit,  you're  not  as  wise  as  you  look 
Here  s  to  your  good  health  and  a  better  understanding  to  you  >*' 
Im  entirely  obliged  to  you,"  answered  Paul  gravely*- 
they  say  evry  fool  thinks  himself  the  wisest,  and  m^vbe  /rrl 
foolish  enough  to  be  of  the  same  notion  " 

''  Ha  !  ha  !  Tommy!"  said  one  of  the  other  men  with  a  good- 
natured  lau^h,  "I'm  afeard  you  happened  on  an  edged  tool 
this  time.    Hurry  up,  now,  and  let  us  be  off." 

th:co::ter.''^^-  ''^^'^^'"  ^'^^^  ^"^'  ^''-'^^^^  ^-^  -- 

ShJ!f\!^"Y'1'  r^^  "^^d^^''^' «^««e  clays,  Mrs.  Finigau ! 
She  s  bothered  entirely  dreamin'  of  Philip  " 

While  Ned  ^yas  enlightening  some  of  th^  men  on  the  nature 
of  the  connection  between  Paul  and  Mrs.  Sheehan.  one  who 
had  not  yet  spoken  turned  his  head  quickly:  "Philin-"  he 
repeated,  "Mrs.  Sheehan !-who  are  they  r.  ^         ^ 

"Friends  ff  mine !"  said  the  little  «fan  shortly,  with  a  look 
that  meant  "  what's  that  to  you  ?" 

nfll7'^i''  ^"*  ^'""^  ^  '''''°"  ^^''  ^'^'"^  ^^^  "^«y  ^''"  said  the 
other,  whose  name  was  Cassidy ;  "  where  is  your  Philip  Sheehan 

"He's  where  God  pleases,"  said  Paul  still  in  the  same  curt 
manner,  and  looking  him  full  in  the  face. 


THE    IRISH   r:.  ..    IN    AMERICA. 


98 


"  Tell  a  fool  that !"  said  Cassidy,  "  but  I  want  to  know  is  he 
living  or  dead  1" 

"  He's  dead,  then  !  will  that  please  you  V'- 

Cassidy  smiled.  "  It  will,  but  it'll  please  me  better  if  you'll 
tell  me  something  more  about  it." 

Paul  was  just  coming  out  with  another  short  answer  but  Ned 
interposed.  "  Don't  mind  Paul,  Mr.  Cassidy,  he  has  a  mighty 
droll  way  with  him,  and  a  body  that  didn't  know  him  mi-ht 
thmk  he  was  downright  in  earnest  sometimes  when  he's  only 
joking.  I'll  just  tell  you  all  I  know  myself  in  regard  to  Philip 
Sheehan." 

"  I  wouldn't  satisfy  him,"  put  in  Paul. 

Regardless  of  the  interruption  Ned  went  on  to  state  what  he 
had  heard  of  Philip  Sheehan  and  his  tragical  death,  winding 
up  with  a  glowing  panegyric  on  Paul  for  his  generous  devotion 
to  the  old  woman. 

As  he  proceeded  in  his  brief  narrative,  Cassidy's  face  lighted 
up  under  the  coat  of  coal-dust  that  made  his  origin  very  ques- 
tionable. When  Ned  told  of  Philip's  occupation  he  nodded 
and  said  "  Exactly,"  and  again  when  he  heard  of  his  untimely 
death  he  smiled  and  rubbed  his  hands  together  as  though  he 
was  delighted  to  hear  it.  His  satisfaction  was  not  shared  bv 
Paul.  ^ 

"Are  you  done  now  1"  he  said  with  real  or  pretended  anger 
when  Ned  came  to  a  stop.  "  Did  you  say  enough  ?  Anything 
yoM  know  might  as  well  be  on  the  market^cross,  Ned  Pini<ran  ' 
—'deed  it  might !"  '^ 

"Ho!  ho!  ho " 

"  It's  my  turn  now,"  said  Cassidy,  making  a  sign  for  Ned  to 
restrain  his  ill-timed  mirth;  "give  me  your  hand,  mv  little 
hero !" 

"Well!  there  it  is,  if  it's  any  use  to  you,"  said  Paul,  "but 
for  my  part  I  think  you're  a  little  too  fond  of  puttin'  your  nose 
in  other  people's  porridge." 

"No  matter  what  you  think  or  what  you  say,"  said  Cassidy, 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


X 


Shaking  the  largo  bony  hand  whicli  the  dwarf  held  out  to  him  • 
'you  re  the  heart's  blood  of  a  brave  fellow-that's  what  yoii 
are.    Now,  I've  good  news  for  you!" 

You  have,  eli!  and  what  is  it?"  asked  Paul  half  in  jest 
half  m  earnest;  "has  the  counsellor  got  Repalo,  or  maybo 
^thejrench  are  on  the  seas'  at  long  last  to  give  poor  Ireland 

''Neither- one  nor  the  other,"  said  Cassidy,  looking  round 
with  sufficient  self-importance  on  the  eager  listeners;  "but 
I  m  going  home  with  yon  to-night  to  pay  my  respects  to  that 
old  woman  of  yours !" 

No,  nor  the  devil  a  step,"  said  Paul  angrily,  while  various 
expressions  of  disappointment  escaped  the  others.  "I  want 
none  of  your  torn-foolery,  my  good  follow  !-d'yo  hear  that 
now?" 

"  I  don't  want  to  hear  it,"  said  Cassidy  with  sly  humor  "  if 
I  did,  I  might  be  thinking  hard  of  them  that  taught  you  man- 
ners.   I've  a  little  business  with  Mrs.  Sheehan-  -ahem !" 

"  What  business  have  yon  with  her?" 

"  Don't  bo  jealous  now,  and  I'll  tell  you.  I  only  wanted  to 
see  7,f  she'd  have  any  objection  to  a  httle  money  that's  laid  un 
for  her.    That's  all."  .    * 

"  Money  laid  up  for  Ae?-/"  cried  Ned. 

"For  old  Dully  Sheehan?"  exclaimed  Ally  in  amazement. 
Pitul  said  nothing,  but  he  looked  as  if  he  would  like  to  hear 
more. 

"For  old  Dolly  Sheehan!"  repeated  Cassidy,  "it's  proud  I 
am  to  tell  it;"  and  the  tears  came  into  his  eyes  as  he  rrianced 
meaningly  over  Paul's  garments  wofully  thin  and  disficruvcd 
with  more  than  one  unsightly  patch.  "  There's  a  good  "three 
hundred  dollars  waiting  for  her  out  in  Cincinnati.  Her  .son 
was  saving  up  intending  to  go  home  in  a  year  or  two  when 
he'd  have  something  worth  taking  along,  and  now  the  money 
IS  there  after  him,  and  nobody  for  it  but  the  old  mother." 

"The  Lord  in  heaven  be  praised!"  said  Ally  almost  cryin^ 


THE    IRISH    GIRr.    IX    A^IKRICA. 


95 


for  joy.    Paul- said  nothing  but  his  lips  quivered,  and   he 
ooked  very  hard  at  Cassidy  to  ascertain  what  truth  was  in 
nis  marvellous  story. 

^^  ''Lord !  the  old  woman  will  go  out  of  her  senses  !"  said  Ned  • 

it  s  best  not  Jet  her  know  too  suddenly."  ' 

''What  fools  we  are!"  said  Paul  abruptly  breaking  silence. 

I^on  t  we  know  very  weil  that  if  Philip  Sheehan  did  leave 

money  behind  him,  no  bank  that  has  it  would  give  it  to  an  old 

creature  that  they  knew  nothing  about." 

"  True  enough,"  said  Cassidy^"  but  supposin'  it  isn't  a  bank 

that  has  It,  but  one  of  the  priests  thero-how  would  that  be?' 

''  Oh !  bedad,  tliat's  a  different  story,"  said  Paul  with  sudden 

animation;  "if  the  priest  has  it,  it's  all  right-Zic'ZZ  not  mis- 

doubt  Dolly's  word,     But  how  will  she  get  to  Cincinnati  1" 

"  "Why,  in  one  of  them  elegant,  fine  coaches  you  were  tellin' 
us  about,  Paul,"  said  Ned  jocosely,  for  he  was  really  as  meivv 
as  If  the  good  news  had  been  to  himself.  "  Them  with  tn« 
velvet  cushions,  you  know,  that  takes  people  for  nothih*' 
wherever  they  want  to  go!"  " 

The  joke  was  lost  on  Paul  whoso  attention  was  fixed  on 
Cassidy. 

"No  need  at  all  for  her  to  go,"  the  latter  replied,  "wW 
priest  knows  Dolly  here?" 

"  Father  B of  St.  Jarnes's  knows  all  about  hc-r  '•• 

"  Very  good.     If  you»ll  just  get  Father  B to  write  t« 

Father  P in  Cincinnati,  and  certify  that  he  knows   Mrs 

Sheehan  to  be  the  right  woman,  stating  the  townland  and  par- 
ish that  she's  from  in  the  Queen's  County,  that's  all  yon  have 

to  do  for  I  heard  Father  P asking  information  of  her  in 

the  Church  two  or  three  different  times,  and  he  said  he  had 
learned  from  her  parish  priest  at  home  that  she  had  come  out 
to  America,  and  that  it  would  be  an  act  of  charity  to  help  to 
find  her  out." 

''  ril  be  biddin'  you  good  night,  Ned !"  said  Paul  abstract 
^^\j,  and  he  reached  his  hand  across  the  counter. 


96 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"Is  it  goin'  you'd  be,  Paul,  after  hearin'  such  good  news, 
without  as  much  as  thankin'  the  decent  man  for  tellin'  you  1"  ' 
"  But  isn't  he  corain'  home  with  me  to  see  Dolly  1" 
"  He  may  when  I'm  done  with  him,  and  you,  too,"  said  Nod, 
"  but  I'll  floor  the  f  rst  man  that  attempts  to  go  without  my 
leave.     Sit  down  there  on  the  benches  every  man  of  you  till  I 
make  you  a  rousing  tumbler  of  punch  to  drink  old  Dolly's 
health,  and  a  long  lease  to  her  and  somebody  we'll  not  mention  !' 
In  vain  Paul  objected,  the  others  were  all  quite  willing  to 
accept  Ned's  treat,  and  Paul  being  left  in  a  minority  of  "one 
was  at  length  forced  to  give  in.    At  another  time  the  liitle  man 
might  have  cut  the  matter  short  with  an  ill-served  answer,  but 
he  was  really  more  elated  than  he  chose  to  acknowledge,'  and 
felt  disposed  to  meet  Ned's  kindness  at  least  half  way.     So 
down  he  sat  with  Cassidy  by  his  side,  thinking,  in  the  fullness 
of  his  heart,  how  he  could  show  his  gratitude  to  that  individual. 
"  By  Jemini !  that's  it !"  said  he  as  his  eye  fell  on  Cassidy's 
feet,  not  over  well  protected  from  the  cold. 

"  What  are  you  about,  man  V   said  Cassidy.     Paul  had 
unconsciously  spoken  aloud,  and,  moreover,  slapped  his  neigh- 
bor lustily  on  the  knee.     "  I  bar  thai  play,  anyhow !"    The 
laugh  that  followed  made  Paul  ashamed,  and  he  put  on  a  very 
cross  face,  as  was  his  wont,  when  trying  to  conceal  his  feehngs. 
"  I  say,  Paul,"  said  Ned,  after  the  proposed  toast  had  been 
duly  drunk,  "  did  you  see  the  Castle  7" 
"  Castle !  what  Castle  V 
"Why,  my  Castle,  to  be  sure." 

"  Your  Castle !    I  didn't  know  you  had  one- " 

"  Well  .N  you  see  I  have— ha !  ha !  ha !  I'm  a  greater  man 
than  my  forebearer  that  only  saved  a  castle  for  othei-s— I've 
one  of  my  own."  Ned's  pleasant  laugh  was  echoed  by  tho 
others  who  understood  the  jest,  but  Paul  looked  sufficiently 
puzzled. 

"And  where  may  your  Castle  be  ?"  he  said ;  "  I  suppose  it's 
up  in  the  air  like  the  one  that  was  a-top  of  Jack's  Bean-Stalk 
long  ago." 


THE    IRISH   GIRL    IN'    AMERICA. 


97 


Faith,  an'  that's  just  where  it  is."  said  Ned,  ral,hi„.  hi. 
hands  together  in  great  gloo ;  "  mine's  up  in  the  air  "sure 
enough,  but  ,t  beats  Jack's  castle  hollow,  for  it  comes  and 
goes  With  every  blast  of  wind.     Didn't  you  see  it  as  you  came 

_  ''Oh  ho!"  said  Paul,  "it's  the  sign  you  moan.  Well ' 
indeed  I  never  thought  of  lookin'  up,  but  I'll  go  and  have  a 
peep  at  it  now." 

Out  went  Paid  and  out  went  Ned  to  indicate  the  perfections 
o  Ins  castle.  It  was  a  sight  to  see  the  two  standing  together 
like  the  giant  and  the  dwarf  in  a  penny  show,  Paul  witli  one 
eye  closed  looking  up  at  the  swinging  sign  with  the  air  of  a 
connoisseur,  and  Ned  looking  down  at  his  face  to  note  the 
ellect  of  his  observation. 

tifuiT'' "  ■ '  '^'^  ^'^' "  ''^'''' '"'  ^""^  *^^"^'  ""^  '^  --'^"'^  '^  ^«^"- 

-"Bedad  it  is."  said  Paul  with  a  very  grave  face;  "it's  a 
fine  -the  word  cattle  stuck  in  his  throat,  for  Paul  was  a 
lover  of  truth-"  it's  mighty  well  done,"  said  he,  "  mighty  well 
cone,  I  declare!"  o    j  >vcii 

"  Well !  it  isn't  as  like  tJie  castle  as  I'd  wish,"  said  Ned  very 
much  in  earnest,  as  they  returned  into  the  house,  "but  you 
know  it  isn't  to  be  expected  that  you'd  get  a  castle  painted 
here  as  you  would  at  homo  !_ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  it's  little  they  know 
of  castles  m  America --still  it  makes  a  fine  show,  and  the 
Tipperary  boys  are  as  proud  of  it  as  can  be  '" 

;;  Why,  what  castle  is  it  1"  demanded  Paul  immediately. 
Well  then,  now  Paul !  what  castle  woidd  it  be  r 

'  Why,  Dublin  Castle,  I  suppose  " 

-Dublin  Castle !"   cried  Ned  contemptuously,  "  a  fi.  for 

?rstii".  tr  r' ".' ''.'"  ""^  "^"^ ''  •'-"«'  -  ■'  ''^  ^^^z— 

know  it  r  ''  "'  '"'  '  ™'"*''^*  ^"^'  ^^"''  "°^  t- 

_"  Well!"  said  Paul  hard  pushed  for  an  excuse.  "  T  snnpo«e 
Hs  because  Ardflnnan  Castle  now  is,  like  myself,  the  worse  for 

5 


98 


BESS! 


CONWAY  ; 


OR, 


the  wear,  and  your  castle  is  bran  new-still  I  am  proud  to  see  it 
where  it  is,  and  that  it  may  last  as  long  as  its  namesake  !  that's 
the  worst  I  wish  it."  Paul  emptied  his  glass  with  a  most  em- 
phatic  gesture,  looking  into  it  with  widely  distended  eyes  as 
though  the  castle  were  daguerreotyped  on  the  bottom. 

When  himself  and  his  new  friend  Cassidy  were  buttoned 
up  ready  to  start,  the  little  man  suddenly  remembered  the 
object  of  his  visit,  and  tapping  Ned  on  the  elbow  he  asked  if 
he  might  have  a  word  with  him  in  private  before  he  wont. 

Leaving  Ally  in  charge  of  the  bar,  Ned  took  the  hunchback 
into  a  email  room  communicating  with  the  other  by  a  door 
then  closed.    Having  ascertained  that  it  was  so,  Ned  returned 
to  Paul  and  having  made  him  sit  down  asked  what  he  wanted. 
Well,  I  don't  want  much,"  said  Paul  smiling  very  gra- 
ciously, "  nothing  but  a  little  information.    Did  yo°u  hear  any* 
thing  new  about  Herbert  since  I  seen  you  1" 
"  Hush  !  hush !    No,  I  didn  t— did  you  V 
Ned  spoke  almost  in  a  whisper,  but  Paul  answered  in  his 
usual  shrill  tone,  higher  than  usual  Ned  thought:  "I  did," 
said  he,  "  I  did,  Ned !    I  hear  he's  keepin'  very  low  com- 
pany  " 

"  Bad  cess  to  you,  Paul !  can't  you  speak  lower  1" 

"I  can't,"  says  Paul,  raising  his  voice  still  higher  as  if  for 
contradiction.    "  Attend  to  what  I'm  sayin' !" 

"  But  what  is  it  to  me  what  company  Mister— ahem  !  what 
company  any  one  keeps  1" 

Paul  was  suddenly  seized  with  a  fit  of  deafness,  "  Anan  V 
said  he  leaning  forward,  and  putting  his  hand  to  the  ear  next 
to  Ned. 

^  "  That  I  m'ayn't  die  in  sin,"  said  Ned  in  his  natural  voice, 
"  if  you're  not  the  contrariest  creature  that  ever  man  or  mor- 
tal met !    You  heard  well  enough  what  I  said— so  you  did !" 

"  Maybe  I  did,  maybe  I  didn't !" 

"I'll  tell  you  again,  then,  but  mind  you  hear  it  this  time, 
or— you  may  travel  farther  for  news."    So  he  repeated  what 


THE    IRISH    GIRL    IN    AMERICA.  99 

to  the  adjoining  room,  and  before  Paurhd  "^"Z'"'^ 
wi.at  ,,0  was  abou,  b^ck  be  cam:  ,^  b  ntry  22  '  l'*».°' 
arm;  flinging  the  door  after  bim,  Ned  marcZ^  ^""' 

companion  ,o  the  middle  of  the  oom  Z  1 J  d  b  "■' 
were,  right  in  front  of  Paul.  '^         ''  '""■  °'  " 

"I  want  to  know  is  that  truel"  qaid  Wa,i     i,-,    ,. 
regarded  each  other  with  no  ve^  t^ndl^p  ?t"'  •' t  ^: 
Mr.  Herbert,  or  Is  it  not?"  J'spooi.       i3  n  true, 

"  I  can't  say  till  I  know  what  it  is  » 

.:nrs-°-"-----r4r;;°:ht;:: 

be" '^rn  "'™''"  ''""  ""  "  ""-""'atever  else  yo«  mi„ht 

•■  ml       T^  "'"  """'"'•  =■""  ""  <"•«'  "ack  a  stop 
Whatever  else  I  m  ght  be'"  ren.-,(.j  .1      i      , 

•lowly,  "and  what  else  do  you  tbini    T  „    "  ''"""'"'ack 

tt  A  u  , ,  ^       tnink  I  am,  M  ster  Herhprf  Q" 

Of  it,  for  tbeTe  w^rttt;:,:  ^rti^  7:'^ ""  •  ^^ '*" 

"  Tt'c  ,^«n        ,  ^    "^^^  made  him  wince 

if  that  Jail  thafs  rjlrmTIn'IbrB-oJkr"""  ""  «"'  -«> 

.iog  cr  ::r:z::f.  f  ;r ;:t'  -^ .""  --• 

-  '^^^^-i  i^--  "^-  inea  lo  laugh, 


100 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


and  <Tave  Paul  a  slap  on  the  shouldor  by  way  of  sport.  "  Well ! 
really,  Paul,  you  are  the  drollest  fellow  !— upon— my  honor  ! 
you — you  make  mo  laugh !" 

"But  what  about  Bessy?"  said  Ned,  as  much  to  relievo 
Herbert  as  anything  else. 

"Ay  !  what  about  Bessy  1"  repeated  the  hunchback. 
"  Well !  as  regards  B  jssy,"  said  Herbert,  making  a  violent 
efTort  to  recover  his  composure,  "  I  give  you  my  word  of  honor 
that  she  never  met  me  even  once— &?/  kor  own  consent— \:\  any 
place  or  at  any  time." 

"  Look  me  in  the  face,  now,"  said  Paul,  "  and  tell  me  that 
yourself  and  her  weren't  out  walkin'  together  last  Sunday  was 
a  fortnight !    Come  now,  tell  the  truth  !" 

^ "  I  don't  deny  it,"  said  Herbert,  the  angry  blood  rushing  to 
his  cheek;  "but  it  was  not  with  Bessy's  will— I  happened  to 
see  her  passing  along  Oliver  street  and  she  seemed  in  trouble 
—I  felt  sorry  to  see  her  looking  so  sad,  and  I  certainly  did 
speak  to  her,  and  although  she  begged  me  not  to  do  so,  I 
walked  with  her  a  little  way." 

"There  now!"  cried  Paul  exultingly,  fully  expecting  that 
Ned  would  take  up  the  matter,  but  no  such  thing.  Ned  all  at 
once  discovered  that  he  was  staying  too  long,  and  merely  said, 
laying  his  big  hand  on  Herbert's  shoulder :  "  I  thought  you 
promised  us  before,  Mister  Herbert,  that  you'd  let  that  girl 
alone.  Now  I  hope  you'll  keep  your  word  better  for  the  time 
to  come." 

"Lord  bless  me!"  said  Paul  to  himself,  "didn't  he  cool 
down  mighty  sudden!"  Herbert  turned  at  the  moment  as 
he  disappeared  through  the  same  door  by  which  he  had  entered, 
ana  fixed  a  look  on  Paul  that  made  him  start,  with  all  his  cool- 
ness and  self-possession.  It  was  as  though  ho  had  said  ; 
"  The  game  is  in  my  hand— look  out  for  yourself  now!" 

"  He's  worth  a  watching— that  same  lad  !"  thought  the  dwarf, 
"  but  I  see  I  needn't  count  any  more  on  Ned.  Hum— m— I 
Bee  how  it  is— he  brings  lots  of  custom  to  the  Castle  I  suppose 


TIIE    'IILSH    GIRI,    IS    AMERICA.  JQI 

-wdl !  sure  enough  he's  a  deep  fellow  for  all  that  smilin'  face 

tim^'ATr'  '"''''''  '' '''  f'"^'  "-'^'■"  «''^^^-- '-  ""-^ko  up  for  lost 

m   ^  1  aul  would  have  passed  them  by  ^vit,h  a  parting  nod  to  Mrs 
F  n..an  hut  the  latter  hailed  hhn  with  :  ■<  ll  that  the  w  ;  y  n 
treat  od  ac,„a.ntances,  Paul  7-don't  you  see  our  Mary  r  ' 
That  J  our  Mary  !'-  shading  his  eyes  with  his  hand  •  "  whv 

if^aj    va,s  m  it!    By  the  laws,  Mary!  but  you're  an  altered 
girl  s.noe  I  seen  you  !     How  are  you,  at  all  "' 

"Well!  I  thank  you!"  said  Mary  very  stiffly  for  Pnul's 
appearance  was  not  such  as  warranted  AxLliarl^,  "ec-  h^ 
sllZ,?"'T     "  '  -'''''  >'°^  ^*^-  ^^-  -^vantage  o'f      e  !' 

ThereT  V"      I  T''"  ''  "^"'^^  "^^  ^'^  ^<^^^'^  ^^  '•-  d  ess 
There  !  if  you  hadn't  your  great  filthy  boot  ri^ht  on  n.y  n2 

sdk  dress  !-dear  !  how  awkward  some  people  are -''  a"  d  witl  a 
^0  her  head  which  sot  the  flowers  oL  he'r  bonnet  a  h^": 
merrily,  on  she  swept  towards  the  stairs  '       " 

Paul  stood  looking  after  her  with  a  comical  look  of  wonder 
on  -  thm  spare  face,  then  turning  to  her  sister  ho  sa  d"  "th 

^r rr  M::y ;''  "°^^'  -^  '-'■  --  ^^  -"  -  ^--  ^^^ ' 

tie:;:^^hrrzM^t^:r-^^^^--^^^^^^^ 

bodv'^f  i'"''i"''''"  ^^^^  P^"^  J^olding  up  his  hands,   "no- 
body need  wonder  at  anything !     A  good  evening  to  you   Mrs 

iauy  wiUnn-I  suppose  we  must  call  her  Miss  Marv  Mn,:. 

silence  ^butTrr  ^'"'^'^"'^'^-'''^"^'--^  ^-^e  her  exit  in  sullen 
srlence,  but  Ned  heanng  what  had  passed,  laughed  in  his  ..ood 
humored  way  as  Paul  shook  hands  with  hhn  across  the     ulr" 
^^  You  11  make  them  all  afraid  of  you,  Paul !" 
"I  say,  Ned,  does  she  dress  in  thnf  fnci.ion  r-p—  -> 


102 


BE88Y   COVWAY;     OR, 


have  *  ftop  to-nis,H  and  thnt's  wl.at  ,nad.  her  dress  uu^^ 
W^S^a  smoking-clui,  that  nioets  hero  two  c.r.ings  fn  the 
ri.  W'  '  ""  ''  ""'  ''«'^^'  it's  then,  that's  gettin. 

Jn?!/''"'  I««;'-well!  Mister  CapiMy.  I  think  we'll  be 

going,  It's  w tar  Mg  late." 

CasHidy  would  just  as  soon  not  have  eone,  for  ho  and  his 
cmnparuons  felt  themselves  very  corufortablo  ju.st  then  over  I 
frosh  'round"  of  punch,  and  ho  was  loath  to  cxchan-^e  tho 
.snnjr  bar-room  for  tho  cold  bioak  streets  anl  tho  wintr^  blast 
t^iat  was  making  tho  doors  and  windows  quiver,  and  bullntin^. 
ArdHnnan  C.^stlo  as  if  it  blow  from  tho  mouths  of  Cromwell's 
cannon  Still  when  he  thought  of  tho  pleasant  task  he  had 
beloro  h.m,  he  jumped  to  his  feet  at  once,  and  having  nmdo 

cold  "h     ;'?",""'"'  "  '"  ^""''"■'  "^^''  ^«  ^-^P  «"t  the 
coil     ho  bade  his  companions  and  tho  landlord  good  nioht 

and,  buttoning  up  their  thin  coats,  so  as  to  obtain  the  greatest 

amount  of  protection  the.j  could   give  against  tho  i^erciL 

blast,  the  two  dived  out  into  the  darkness  and  disappeared.   " 


THE  inmri  girl  m  xumiCA. 


l\)6 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

t  ue^   Bb.  could  by  no  moans  realise  it  to  herself  that  she  was 

he  he,re«s-apparent  to  so  much  wealth.    The  ment  on  ofTt 

however,  in  connection  with  her  lost  son,  brou^hTtoZts  o  ' 

and^hastWy  dry.ng  up  her  tears  she  said,  fixing  her  ey'ron 

"  Well !  wouldn't  it  be  a  funny  thing  if  it  was  true  after  all  7 

An  sure  enough,  I  was  dreamin'  of  my  father  last  nWh^Gd 

est  Ins  sou  !  an'  he  never  comes  to  me  but  for  good  luckV^if 

Paul !  what  do  you  think  V  ' 

•'Why,  then,  didn't  I  tell  you,  Mrs.  Sheehan,  ma'am-  that 
s  a   true  as  the  Gospell    The  money  ia  there  sure  enough 
11  you  can  only  ffei  it!"  «"o«gn, 

"Oh!  if  that's  all,  there'll  be  no  trouMe  «hnnf  if 
bor,.„w  wtat-n  take  „,  rro™  Ne,.  fS„  and  we^l^tart  I" 
morrow,  please  floii !"  '  '"" 

When  told  tl.at  It  was  not  at  all  necessaiy  for  ber  to  ^o  to 
Cmcmnat,,  but  only  to  her  own  priest  in  New  Tork  the  old 
woman's  joy  knew  no  bounds.    Still  there  was  grfefL  w 

ss "" "  ^"'' "' '™'' "™"'  -- '» *»  -'^t :;  iz 

yolr^uhlifh  ""'"."""  *°  """''''  »»'■  "-«  youdoin'for 
your  ould  mother,  an'  you  in  your  grave-ma  gra  gal  von  wor!" 

Cassfdv    r'V^"''  '"""'^  '*''"'  '"  »  ""4"  ^-'  to 
i^aasidy,     if  the  creature  only  knew  it !" 


!  I 


104 


BFSSY    COXWAY  :     OR. 


In  order  to  direct  her  thoughts  from  this  fatal  reineml)ranco 
Cassidy  asked  with  great  apparent  interest : 

"  But,  granny,  what  are  you  going  to  do  with  all  your  money, 
when  you  get  iti" 

At  this  Dolly's  old  face  lightened  up  like  a  wintry  sunbeam. 
"  What  will  I  do  with  it !— oh,  then,  it's  mvself  knows  that 
well " 

"  An'  what  is  itl"  said  Paul  by  way  of  humoring  her. 

"  It's  none  of  your  business,  Paul  Brannigan  !"  with  a  toss 
of  her  old  head  that  was  quite  comical  to  see. 

"  See  that  now,  Mister  Cassidy  !"  said  the  dwarf  pleasantly, 
"  see  what  it  is  to  have  money !— but  that's  true,"  and  rising 
he  took  down  his  measure  from  a  shelf  hard  by,  "  that's  true" 
Mister  Cassidy,  I  want  to  take  your  measure  for  a  pair  of' 
boots," 

"  Well!  I  declare,  Mr.  Brannigan!"  said  Cassidy  with  some 
embarrassment,  "  I'd  be  willin'  to  give  you  the  job— and,  indeed, 
I'm  not  out  of  the  need  of  it  at  the  present  time"— he  looked 
ruefully  down  at  his  feet—"  but  then— then " 

"Bad  cess  to  you,  why  don't  you  speak  out  at  onst?"  said 
Paul  testily ;  "  why  shouldn't  I  make  you  the  boots  V 
^^  "Well!  for  a  very  good  reason,"  said  the  smut-faced  artisan, 
"  because  the  money  isn't  to  spare  at  home.  Though  I  have' 
good  steady  work  all  the  year  round,  somehow  we're  hardly 
ever  able  to  make  both  ends  meet.  Money  is  always  the 
scarcest  thing  with  us !" 

"  Still  you  can  find  some  for  Ned  Finigan,"  said  Paul  with  a 
caustic  smile.  "  But  that's  no  business  of  mine.  Who  said  you'd 
have  to  pay  for  the  boots?— hold  up  your  foot  hero!"'  One 
would  think  he  meant  to  cut  off  the  limb  he  seized  it  so 
roughly.  Cassidy  submitted  very  quietly  to  the  operation, 
and  when  it  was  completed  Paul  straightened  himself  up. 

"  Now,  go  home !"  said  he,  "  like  a  decent  man,  an'  if  you'll 
take  a  friend's  advice  you'll  spend  your  evenings  there.'  I'd 
tell  you  the  same  if  Ned  Finigan  was  to  the  fore  this  present 


THE    IRISH   GIRL    IN    AMERICA 


105 


nembranoe 


rainute-indeecl  he's  not  without  knowin'  my  opinion  before 
now  in  regard  to  the  business  he's  in.  If  you  want  ever  to 
have  anything  by  you,  or  to  keep  your  head  above  water, 
you'll  keep  away  from  such  places  altogether." 

"Well,  I  declare,  Mister  Brannigan^  I  don't  spend  much 
when  I  do  go,  and  it  isn't  often  I  go,  at  all." 

"  That  says  nothing— the  habit  will  grow  on  yoa  before  you 
know  where  you  are.  Go  an  odd  time  into  a  tavern  taking  a 
fsup  with  this  one  and  a  sup  with  that  one,  and  you'll  soon  be 
that  you  can't  stay  a  whole  evenin'  quietly  at  home.  But 
stay  at  home  for  a  week  or  so,  an'  read  a  book  or  something 
that  way,  an'  you'll  see  you'll  not  care  for  goin'  anywhere" 
an'  you'll  wonder  at  how  much  money  it'll  save  you." 

"  Now  that's  as  true  as  if  the  priest  said  it,"  chimed  in  Dolly; 
"  it  takes  Paul  to  give  a  good  advice !" 

Cassidy  put  it  off  with  a  laugh,  but  there  was  a  voice  within 
him  that  bore  testimony  to  the  truth  of  Paul's  words,  and  as 
he  walked  home  through  the  darkness  and  the  storm,  that  in- 
ward monitor  kept  saying:  "  Is  it  not  true  every  word  he  said  ? 
—have  you  not  spent  many  a  dollar  in  the  gin-shop  in  the 
lapse  of  years  1— ay!  as  much  as  would  clothe  yourself  and 
your  family  decently  and  comfortably,  if  you  had  it  by  you 
now  1" 

On  tlie  following  Sunday  old  Dolly's  claim  was  laid  in  due 

form  before  Father  B and  the  good  priest  was  only  too 

happy  to  take  the  necessary  steps  on  her  behalf.  After  soma 
weeks  of  anxious  suspense,  during  wlrich  more  than  one  com- 

munication  passed  between  Father  P of  Cincinnati  and 

Father  B of  New  York,  the  latter  had  the  satisfaction  of 

obtaming  the  whole  sum  left  by  Philip  Sheehan,  amountina 
to  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  It  was  the  end  of  the 
week  when  the  auspicious  letter  reached  him,  and  he  sent 
immediately  to  ask  Mrs.  Sheehan  and  Paul  Brannigan  to  go 
to  his  house  on  Sunday  afternoon. 

I  suppose  bis  rererenec  has  got  another  letter,'*  said  Paul  • 


106 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;    OR, 


"now  wouldn't  it  be  a  queer  thing  all  out,  Mrs.  Sheehan, 
ma'am  !  if  all  ended  in  smoke  V 

But  Dolly  would  not  let  such  a  thought  near  Iier,  and 
although  she  had  no  expectation  of  immediate  success,  still 
she  put  a  little  extra  sfcarch  in  her  best  high-cauled  cap,  and 
otherwise  prepared  herself  to  make  "a  dacent  appearance"  on 
the  important  occasion. 

"  It  is  the  morning  of  tF>e  hallow'd  day," 
and  Dolly  is  off  to  an  early  Mass  at  St,  James's,  while  Paul, 
intending  to  go  to  High  Mass,  strolls  away  towards  the  Turk 
in  search  of  "  a  mouthful  of  fresh  air,"  as  he  said  to  himself. 
But  Paul  had  another  motive  for  taking  his  morning  walk  in 
that  direction.    The  Park  was  then  more  deserving  of  the 
name  than  it  now  is,  for  its  miniature  charms  were  highly 
praised  by  people  who  had  never  seen  the  lawns,  and  glades, 
and  groves,  and  avenues  of  a  Regent's  or  a  Phoenix  Park,    No 
rural  resort  had  yet  been  provided  for  the  good  citizens  of 
New  York,  and  as  the  only  place  of  shade  to  be  had  in  that 
part  of  the  citj^  the  City  Hall  Park  was  the  favorite  haunt  of 
all  the  dwellers  "  down  town"  who  loved  the  verdure  and  the 
shade.    The  place  was  then  in  its  palmy  days,  and  had  many 
a  pleasant  nook 

"  With  seats  beneath  the  shade," 
which  if  not  exactly 

"  For  talking  age  and  whisp'rmg  lovers  made," 
like  those  immortalized  in  Goldsmith's  verse,  were  none  the 
less  most  excellent  resting-places  for  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  toil  when  on  "  the  Sabbath,  the  poor  man's  day,"  they  could 
sit  and  listen  to  the  plash  of  the  fountain  and  think  of  things 
past,  present,  and  future.  The  Park  had  been  Paul'c  favorite 
resort  on  Sundays  ever  since  he  came  to  New  York,  and 
although  'the  leaves,  and  flowers,  and  verdure  Avere  all  gouo 
with  the  summer,  and  the  fountain's  pleasant  song  was  heard 
no  more,  yet  still  might  Paul  be  seen  either  sitting  Mke  a 


THE   IRISH   CxIRI,    IN    AMERICA. 


lot 


irance    on 


grotesque  statue  on  one  of  the  benches,  or  saunterin-  leisurely 
along  the  walks  every  Sunday  morning,  unless  when  the 
weather  was  such  as  to  keep  the  whole  city  in-doors. 

On  that  particular  Sunday  the  skies  were  clear  and  bright 
and  tlxe  ground  hard  frozen,  and  our  queer  little  friend  took 
up  his  position  on  a  bench  in  front  of  the  City  Hall  in  the 
avenue  leading  to  Chambers  street,  then  as  now  one' of  the 
busiest  thoroughfares  in  New  York  City.     And  what  brought 
Paul  there  that  cold  frosty  morning  ?  surely  it  was  not  plea  -.ure 
for  Paul's  garments  were  not  over  well  suited  to  the  stat«  of 
the  atmosphere,  and  he  must  have  felt  the  cold  keenly  for  he 
got  up  every  few  minutes  and  took  a  turn  or  two  backwards 
and  forwards,  stamping  his  feet  on  the  ground,  and  slappin- 
his  hands  against  his  sides  after  the  old  approved  mode  of 
keeping  the  blood  in  circulation.    No,  no,  it  was  not  for  plea- 
sure that  Paul  was  there,  but  from  a  purer  and  higher  motive 
that  warmed  his  heart  and  tingled  on  his  veins,  and  lifted  him 
altogether  beyond  his  own  comfort  or  convenience.     That  mo- 
tive was  charity,  the  lambent  flame  whose  fount  is  in  heaven 
One  might  have  wondered  to  see  the  little  stunted  creature 
waitmg  there,  as  he  evidently  was,  his  thin  old-fashioned  face 
pmched  and  his  hands  red  and  blue  with  the  cold,  but  the 
wonder  would  soon  cease,  for  Paul  had  not  waited  very  long 
when  up  with  a  race  came  a  little  ragged  urchin  with  a  bundle 
of  newspapers  under  his  arm,  and  him  Paul  greeted  as  a  fami- 
har  acquaintance,  if  not  an  old  one,  telling  him,  at  the  same 
time,  that  he  had  been  waiting  for  him. 

"By  golly!  you  had  a  cold  sit  of  it,  then,"  said  the  boy 
with  a  shiver.     "  Haven't  none  of  the  others  come  along  yet  V' 
"  Not  one,  not  one ;  did  you  tell  them  7" 
"  Yes,  I  did  ;  they'll  be  around,  never  fear!    They  wanted 
dreadful  bad  to  know  what  you  had  got  to  say  to  them." 
"  And  you  didn't  tell  them,  did  you  1" 
"  I  guess  not !"  said  the  precocious  youngster,  who  rejoiced  in 


the  name  of  arike  Milllgan,  "  'cause  why, 


Ijjj^ij.  1 
uiuu  I  iiiiow  my 


108 


BESSY    CONWAY :     OR 


raising 


self.    Here  they  como,  anyhow.    Hurry  up,  will  you'?" 
his  voice — "here's  the  man  I  told  you  of." 

Paul  was  speedily  surrounded  hy  some  six  or  eight  lads  iu 
the  same  "  fantastic  livery  hedight,"  not  one  of  them  all  hav- 
ing a  single  garment  free  from  rents  or  patches.  It  noeded 
not  the  bundle  of  papers  carried  by  each  to  point  them  out  as 
members  of  that  noisy  community  whose  cries  are  amongst 
the  first  to  wake  the  echoes  of  the  city  after  "  the  rosy  dawn 
appears." 

"  Here  they  are  now  for  you,"  said  Mike  laughing,  "  here's 
the  Sunday  papers,"  and  then  he  introduced  all  the  gaping 
youngsters,  some  as  the  Sunday  Times,  others  the  Sunday 
Herald,  and  so  on. 

"Yes,  yes,"  said  Paul,  "but  you  have  other  names  than 
them,  haven't  you "?" 

"  Well  yes,  there's  Terry  Smith,  and  Pat  I'oyle,  and  Sam 
Hooks,  and  Limping  Jo,  and  Humpy  Peter" — at  this  last  name 
the  boys,  except  Peter  himself,  all  laughed  and  looked  up 
slily  at  Paul,  as  if  to  see  how  he  took  it.  Paul  laid  his  hand 
kindly  on  little  Peter's  head,  but  appeared  to  take  no  other 
notice  of  what  the  astute  \irchins  enjoyed  as  a  capital  joke. 

"  So  you're  all  Irish  V  said  he. 

"  No,  no !"  none  of  them  would  give  in  to  that. 

"  What  religion  do  you  belong  to  ^" 

The  boys  shook  their  heads. 

"  Are  you  Catholics  or  Protestants,  I  mean?" 

Yes,  most  of  them  were  Catholics,  but  a  few  were  Protest- 
ants, and  amongst  them  were  Sam  Hooks  and  Limping  Jo. 

"  Do  you  ever  go  to  Church,  then,  any  of  you  1" 

"  Why,  no  .'"  said  Mike  Milligan,  speaking  for  the  others, 
"  folks  don't  buy  papers  there,  do  they  V 

*'  What  difference  is  there,  then,  between  the  Catholics  and 
Protestants  among  you  1  How  do  you  know  one  from  the 
Other  ?" 

%k. 

Hearing  this  the  boys  all  laughed  and  winked  knowingly  at 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA. 


109 


each  other,  evidently  setting  down  "the  old  coon"  in  their 
own  minds  as  particularly  "  green !" 

"Why,  golly!  that's  plain  enough,"  said  Terrv  Smith,  a 
thm-faced,  old-fashioned  lad,  whose  ago  might  be  ien  or  six- 

'Zl'  n^V'^^  '""'  °^  *^"  ^''''^'''  ^'^^  f'-ice  of  the  latter  age. 
^he  Catholics  go  in  for  the  bishop  and  the  priests,  and  the 
Protestants  run  dead  against  them-^A.y  vote  one  ticket,  you 
see,  and  we  vote  the  other." 

Although  this  brief  colloquy  occupied  but  a  few  moments 
the  youngsters  I-  >gan  to  show  signs  of  impatience,  and  guessed 
they  couldn't  wait  any  longer  in  the  cold.  They  must  sell 
their  papers. 

"I'll  not  keep  you  many  minutes,"  said  Paul,  "for  myself 
hasn  t  much  time  to  spare  more  than  you.  I  jist  want  to  ask 
you  a  few  questions,  and  then  you  can  go  for  this  time.  Pe- 
ter! -to  Im  little  brotLor  in  deformity-"  Peter !  can  you  tell 
me  who  is  God  V  ^ 

Peter  shook  his  head.  The  same  question  being  put  to  the 
oUiors  in  turn,  some  said  they  did  not  know,  others  had  heard 
of  God  but  they  couldn't  tell  who  He  was ;  one  guessed  He  was 
higher  than  the  President  and  lived  a  great  ways  off  where  no- 
body ever  could  see  Him.  Some  of  the  boys  laughed  at  this 
and  said :  "  An't  you  ashamed,  not  to  know  who  God  is  i" 

Sam  Hooks  had  often  heard  of  God,  but  he  guessed'it  was 
all  make-beheve.  Mike  Milligan  rebuked  the  young  heathen 
sharply  and  answered  at  once  • 

an^alUhlg'.'^^^^  ^°'  ''  ^'^  ^^'^^  ^'  ^^^^  -^  -^^ 

wovn  ^"^  V  .f  Vf ''  "  ^"^'^  ''-^''  ^^^^  '^  *^«  Creator  of  the 
woild,  and  the  Judge  of  all  mankind.    He  has  a  heaven  of 

joy  and  beauty  to  reward  the  good,  and  a  fiery  hell  to-punish 
the  wicked.  He  is  a  great  and  mighty  God,  and  it  i,  a  dread- 
ful  thing  to  offend  Him." 

The  youngsters  listened  with  gaping  wonder,  differently 
atlec.ed  oy  tiie  aiinounceraent  of  these  awful  truths.  Some 
were  deeply  impressed  while  others  only  laughed. 


no 


BESSY   CO>fWAY  ;     OR, 


"  Guess  he  won't  come  it  on  me  /"  said  Sam  Hooks,  putting 
on  a  very  determined  face  ;  "  /know  wliat  he's  up  to — I  do!" 

"  Shut  up  there,  Hooks !"  cried  Terry  Smith,  "  let  the  man 
speak,  will  you !" 

"  Which  of  you  can  tell  me  how  mtiny  Gods  there  are?"  said 
Paul.  Some  said  three,  some  twO;  and  a  very  few  answered 
correctly — of  this  number  again  was  Paul's  first  acquaintance, 
Mike  Milligan. 

"  Good !"  said  Paul,  "  there  is  only  one  God,  but  now  tell  me, 
if  yc>    can,  how  many  persons  in  God  V 

■  ■  '-..ills  was  a  puzzler,  and  after  thinking  for  some  time  and 
making  various  guesses  on  the  subject,  it  was  left  for  Mike  to 
solve  as  before.  Mike  knew  the  number  of  persons  in  the 
Blessed  Trinity,  and  the  names  by  which  they  were  distin- 
guisned.    He  could  also  make  the  sign  of  the  Cross. 

Wondering  eyes  were  turned  on  Mike,  and  Paul  laid  hh 
hand  kindly  on  the  lad's  shoulder.  "  Why,  who  taught  you 
this,  my  little  man  1    You  say  you  never  go  to  Church  1 

"  Well !  I  guess  it  was  Nancy  Leary." 

"  And  who  is  Nancy  Leary  7" 

The  boy  looked  up  at  Paul  with  intent  to  speak,  but  the 
tears  gushed  from  his  eyes,  his  head  sunk  on  his  breast,  and  he 
.said  nothing.  Some  of  the  others  hastened  to  explain.  Nancy 
Leary  was  an  old  apple-woman  who  had  found  Mike,  when 
two  or  three  years  old,  sitting  on  a  cellar-door  crying  for  his 
"  mammy,"  which  individual,  whether  living  or  dead,  never 
answered  to  the  call.  So  Nancy  Leary  adopted  Mike,  and 
shared  her  bit  and  her  sup,  and  her  straw  couch  with  him 
while  she'lived,  ay!  and  begged  clothes  for  him,  tco,  which 
her  rough,  weather-hardened  hands  kept  in  repair ;  but  Nancy 
died  and  the  child  could  hardly  be  torn  from  the  white  deal 
ooffln  in  which  public  charity  encased  the  poor  apple-woman's 
mortal  remains ;  no  wonder,  the  boy  added,  for  Mike  never 
had  any  friend  but  old  Nancy,  and  she  kept  him  flret-rat© 
comfortable. 


THE    IRISH   OIRI<   IN    AMERICA. 


Ill 


"I  gue.ss  I'd  know  many  thinga  I  don't  know,"  sobbed  out 
Mike,  "  if  Nancy  hadn't  died  that  time.  S)ie  knew  all  about 
God,  and  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  a  sight  of  things  that  I  don't 
remember  now." 

"  God  rest  her  soul !"  ejaculated  Paul  with  simple  fervor, 
recognizing  in  the  poor  street-seller  a  departed  sister  in  the 
Lord. 

The  little  instruction  which  had  fallen  to  Mike  Milligan's 
share  was  unhappily  confined  to  himself.  Most  of  the  others 
were  quite  willing  to  learn,  however,  and  appeared  much  in- 
terested in  the  marvellous  things  told  them  of  God  and  the 
world's  redemption,  and  the  sublime  destiny  of  man,  as  co-heir 
with  Christ  in  the  kingdom  of  His  Father. 

But  Sam  Hooks  was  still  skeptical,  and  made  a  mockery  of 
the  whole  tiling.  Hearing  the  kingdom  mentioned,  he  broke 
in  with  an  oath  : 

"Stop  there,  old  fellow!  I  guess  you've  gone  about  far 
enough.    You  don't  take  us  for  fools,  do  you  ?" 

"  'Deed  no,  Sam !  but  I  take  you  for  Chiistlans  redeemed 
by  the  blood  of  a  God,  and  I'd  wish  to  put  you  in  the  way  of 
savin'  your  souls  and  growin'  xip  decent,  creditable  men." 

"  Bosh !  wo  an't  ever  going  to  be  n  uch  better  off  than  we 
are  now.  If  you  can  tell  us  how  to  mi  ke  money  and  get  fine 
clothes,  and  good  eating  and  drinking,  and  have  good  times  all 
the  year  round,  then  I'll  call  you  a  blamed  smart  old  chap ; 
but  I  guess  that  an't  in  your  way." 

'•Why  so,  Sam?" 

"  Well,  it  a'nt  hard  to  tell  that,  anyhow,"  said  Sam,  with  a 
knowing  glance  at  Paul's  shabby  apparel.  "Don't  any  fool 
know  that  nobody  wears  a  bad  coat  or  a  bad  hat  if  he  can. 
any  Where's  get  a  good  one,  and  for  the  eating  and  drinking— 
gosh  .  '—and  he  laughed  in  Paul's  face—"  you  look  as  though 
you  didn't  know  what  it  was  !  don't  he,  now?" 

Some  of  the  youngsters  laughed  at  this  sally,  out  most  of 
them  rebuked  Hooks  for  his  want  of  reverenco.  Sara  ouly 
laughed  the  more. 


112 


BESSY   CONWAY  j    OR, 


!^  II 


••  Don't  mind  him,  sir,"  then  said  Terry  Smith,  "  I  guess  he'd 
talk  so  to  his  motlier— if  he  had  one— nobody  minds  him  !" 

"  I'll  make  you  mind  p  (>,  anyhow !"  said  Sam,  and  suiting 
the  action  to  the  word,  he  applied  his  fist  to  Terry's  ear  with  a 
force  that  would  have  knocked  him  down  had  not  Paul  caught 
him  by  the  arm.  Terry  seemed  disposed  to  resent  the  insult, 
and  the  other  boys  would  have  taken  his  part,  for  Sam  was  no 
favorite  amongst  them,  but  Paul  interposed  and  with  no  small 
difficulty  succeeded  in  restoring  peace. 

"  As  for  you,"  said  he  to  Sara,  "  I  think  you'd  best  go  your 
ways." 

"  I  guess  that's  about  the  truest  word  you've  said  yet,  my 
old  coon,"  Sam  answered  quickly ;  "  when  Mike  Milliga'n  or 
yon  catch  me  again  listening  to  confounded  old  yarns  when  I 
ought  to  be  selling  my  papers,  you  may  send  me  up  en  a  kite's 
back  in  search  of  that  kingdom  you  spoke  of— you  may !" 

Away  he  went  and  Paul  made  no  effort  to  detain  him.  "  If 
you  do.i't  change  your  hand,  my  good  fellow,"  he  said  to  him- 
self, looking  after  him,  "you'll  go  up  in  a  rope  some  day— 
though  not  to  heaven !" 

"  Let  him  go!"  said  Mike,  "  it's  a  small  loss !"  * 

"Well !  it  an't  much  matter,  Mike,"  said  he  of  the  nevoid, 
very  much  in  earnest;  "  Sam's  a  hard  case,  anyhow.  I  guess 
he  might  run  for  office  any  day,  if  he  was  only  big  enough." 

"Run  for  officer*  inquired  Paul  opening  his  eyes  very 
wide.    " Why,  what  does  thatmean  1" 

The  boys  all  laughed.  "  Ha !  ha !  old  dad,  you  don't  know 
that—gxxeBs  you'll  never  get  a  nomination,  anyhow!" 

"Except  for  scavenger!"  suggested  Limping  .To;  "there 
an't  much  pickings  in  that,  you  know,  and  I  guess  an  honest 
man  might  slip  in  there." 

"  Lord !  Lord !"  said  Paul  to  himself,  "  isn't  it  the  quare 
country  all  out !  but  I  suppose  we  must  only  take  our  turn 
out  of  it,  let  it  be  as  it  may." 

"  Well,  boys!"  said  he,  "  it's  time  I  was  movin'  home  for  I 


THR    IRISH    GIRL   IK    AMERICA. 


113 


have  my  breakfast  to  get  before  Ma^s-time.  I'm  sorry  I  can't 
Mop  longer  with  you  now,  but  next  Sunday  morning,  God 
^v.iling,  you'll  all  meet  me  here  if  the  weather  is  good,  and 
try  to  bring  some  more  vith  you,  an'  we'll  have  a  little  while 
to  talk." 

Tlioy  all  promised  chee  illy.  "  Well  now !  let  us  see,  be- 
fore  you  go,"  said  Paul,  "  if  you  remember  what  I  told  you  " 

1  e.s,  yes !  they  remembered :  one  God,  in  three  persons. 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 

"And  the  heaven  that's  to  reward  the  good,  and  the  flery 
hell  to  punish  the  wicked.  You'll  keep  all  that  in  mind,  will 
you  V 

All  right,  they'd  remember  that,  too,  but  after  a  brief  con- 
sultation  amongst  themselves  they  detained  Paul  to  ask  an- 
other question:  " Tt^ho  is  the  Blessed  Virgin?" 

"  Lord  bless  me !"  said  Paul,  oblivious  for  the  moment  of 
the  gross  darkness  that  enveloped  the  minds  of  his  hearers 
''Lord  bless  me!  don't  you  know  that?  Why,  sure,  the 
Blessed  Virgin  is  the  Mother  of  Our  Lord.  Pll  tell  you  all 
about  Him  and  her  next  Sunday,  please  God." 

"Well!"  said  Pat  Boyle  musingly,  "if  the  Virgin  Mary  is 
the  Mother  of  Our  Lord,  I  guess  her  Son  must  be  real  angry 
with  some  folks"-and  he  looked  significantly  at  Jo-«I've 
heard  awful  bad  things  said  of  her— I  have !" 

"  Never  mind,  my  little  fellow."  said  Paul,  "  there  was 
everything  bad  said  of  Christ  himself  when  He  was  here  on 
earth,  but  depend  on  it,  He'll  one  day  settle  accounts  with 
them  that  blaspheme  His  mother^s  name.  We  must  leave  it 
all  in  His  hands." 

"  Yes,  I  guess  it's  His  own  business,"  said  Larry  Kooney  I 
know  what  rd  do  to  any  one  that  called  m^j  mother  name&~ 
for  all  she's  dead  now " 

"  Why,  what  would  you  do,  my  boy  ?" 

"  I  fiuess-I'd-glvc  them  Jessy  r  the  lad  replied  speaking 

throuarh  his   pIokpH   fe^ath    "'^'^rmr-a — -'-i-  •^-•-  .       ' 

— u!,  wvvompaiijjny  ma  woras  witn  au 


lU 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


emphatic  shako  of  his  tiny  fist  which  came  alarmingly  near 
Jo's  prohoscis,  whether  hy  accident  or  design. 

"  Well !  the  Blessed  Virgin  is  your  inotlier  and  my  mother," 
said  Paul  quickly,  "  and  the  mother  of  all  mankind— so  you 
see  what  it  is  for  any  one  to  disrespect  her!" 

"  Gosh !  what  a  family  she's  got!"  put  in  Limping  Jo,  some- 
what irreverently. 

"  There !  I  told  you,"  said  Mike  exultingly ;  "  Nancy  always 
called  her  mother,  and  she  said  she  was  real  good  to  her,  for 
all  I  never  could  git  sight  of  her  when  she  came  along.  Many 
a  time  I  tried  hard  to  keep  my  eyes  open  when  Nancy  was  at 
her  prayers  at  night,  to  see  who  she  was  talking  to,  hut  I  al- 
ways fell  asleep  as  soon  as  she  knelt  down  and  hegan  to  pray 
to  God  and  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  somehody  she  called  Saint 
Joseph.  Guess  I  wouldn't  mind  that  name  so  well,  only  for 
'  limping  Jo'  there,  'cause  why,  w©  call  Jiim  Joseph  once  in 
awhile." 

''Blessed  mother!"  said  Paul,  half  aloud,  "are  these  the 
children  of  fathers  that  suffered,  and  died  for  the  faith  ■" 
The  tears  gushed  from  his  eyes,  seeing  which,  the  youngsters 
were  much  astonished,  and  looked  up  curiously  in  his  f-'ce. 
Paul  laid  his  hand  kindly  on  the  head  of  each,  and  told  .hem 
not  to  mind  him,  but  go  home  and  be  good  boys. 

"  God  be  with  you  till  I  see  you  again  I"  said  he,  "  and  mind 
what  I  told  you  in  regard  to  bringin'  some  more  of  the  boys 
next  Sunday." 

Away  scampered  the  ragged  company,  all  except  Mike 
Milligan,  who  was  detained  a  moment  by  Paul. 

"  You'lUnot  forget  the  other  affair— eh,  Mike  V 

"  See  if  I  do,"  Mike  answered  with  a  sagacious  nod. 

"  You're  sure  you  know  the  house  V 

"  I  guess  I  do !"  and  he  grinned  signiflcantly. 

"  Very  well,  you  may  go  now." 

Mike  ran  off  with  a  hop,  step  and  a  jump,  and  overtook  the 
others  just  as  they  reached  the  gate.     The  last  Paul  saw  of 


THE    IRISH    GIRL    IV    AMERICA. 


115 


him  he  was  mounted  on  tlie  shoulders  of  the  Times'  lopresenta- 
tivo,  which  position  ho  had  gained  with  a  spring,  as  the  iermuius 
of  hia  race. 

Paul  stood  a  moment  looking  after  his  promising  pupils,  and 
once  or  twice  he  shook  his  head. 

"Well,  God  help  us  !"  said  he  to  himself,  "  I'm  afoard  it's 
a  poor  chance— howsomevcr,  we  can  only  try.  We'll  do  our 
best,  and  leave  the  rest  to  God." 

He  looked  up  a^  the  clock  in  the  cupola  and  found  to  his 
great  surprise  that  it  was  already  half-past  nine. 

"  By  the  laws,"  said  he  to  himself,  "I'll  have  hard  work  to 
get  my  breakfast  and  be  away  in  time— who'd  think  it  was  so 
kte!' 

Hurrying  home  as  fast  as  ho  could,  he  found  Dolly  freiLing 
and  talking  to  herself  at  a  great  rate  about  the  breakfast  beirif^ 
spoiled,  and  people  "  goin'  stravagin'  about,  when  they  ought  to 
l»e  in  the  house  to  get  a  comfortable  bit  an'  sup  of  a  Sunday 
mornin'.  It  was  purty  work,  so  it  was !"  Dolly  said  as  she 
placed  the  meal  on  the  small  table  before  Paul. 

Tho  little  man  laughed  and  hummed  in  Irish  in  a  not  uj- 
melodious  voice  : 

"  0  Woman  of  Three  Cowa,  agragh  !  don't  let  your  tongue  thusrnttle  ! 
0  don't  be  saucy,  don't  be  proud,  altho'  jou  mny  have  cuttle !" 

This  alhiRion  fo  her  good  luck  restored  Dolly's  good  humor. 
"  Wisha,  that  I  mayn't  sin,  Paul,  but  you'd  make  .a  body  laugh 
if  they  were  dyin'!— hurry  with  your  breakfast  like  a  dacent 
man  as  you  are,  till  I  get  the  things  cleared  away  !" 

"  Oh  to  be  sure  1"  said  Paul,  "  to  be  sure,  we're  like  a  hen 
on  a  hot  griddle  till  we  see  the  priest  the  day.  Sure  enough ! 
this  money  beats  the  world  wide  !" 

Paul's  frugal  meal  was  soon  despatched  and  away  he  went 
to  St.  James's,  well  pleased  to  find  that  M-ss  was  not  yet  com- 
menced.    It  so  happened  that  the  sermon  that  day  was  on  the 

ick'V^       li  T^ni4-'\^       —.111 i.       1  .  ,  .    .- 


'--—*'  A  mvat       TTltilulil* 


t  works  is  dead,"  and  as   tho  preacher 


116 


BKSSV    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


procoedod  to  onumcratc  tlie  works  which  are  most  available 
for  salvation,  Paul's  heart  swelled  with  joy  as  his  ears  drank 
in  the  clorious  promise:  "They  who  instruct,  the  ignorant 
shall  shine  as  the  stars  in  heaven." 

"  Well !  that's  worth  a  workin'  for,  anyhow,"  said  ho  to  him- 
self as  he  paced  along  on  his  homeward  way.  "  Lsn't  it  a 
great  thing  for  the  likes  of  me  to  think  that  I  can  gain  that 
high  place  in  heaven  as  well  as  if  I  was  rich  or  hanc'.some,  or 
well-dressed,  or  could  read  Latin  like  the  priest !  Isn't  it  now  1 
So,  Paul  Brannigau  !  keep  up  your  heart,  and  do  what  you  can 
to  make  the  name  of  God  known  and  honored  !  It  isn't  much 
you  can  do,  ])oor  man  !  and  do  your  hest,  but  every  little  helps, 
you  know,  and  when  God  didn't  give  you  the  ability  to  do  much, 
he'll  not  expect  it  from  you,  blessed  bo  Ilia  name  !  But  you 
know  well  that  what  you  can  do,  you  must  do,  so  now,  stir 
yourself, — if  you  want  to  get  the  reward,  you  must  do  some- 
thing for  it !" 
It  was  late  that  afternoon  v/hen  Vespers  were  over  and 

Father  B at  liberty  to  attend  to  Dolly  Shechan,  who,  witli 

Paul,  sat  waiting  in  the  hall  of  the  presbytery. 

"  Well,  do  you  know,  Paul  aroon!"  said  the  old  woman  as  a 
ring  at  the   door-bell   made  her  start,  "do  you  know,  I'm 
gettin'  mighty  timorous  about  it!" 
"  About  what  V  ^ 

"  Why,  then,  about  this  money.  Now  see  what  trouble 
we're  givin'  his  reverence,  an'  maybe  for  nothing  at  all." 

"  I  tell  you,  Mrs.  Sheehan!  you're  nothing  else  but  a  fool!" 
said  Paul  peevishly—"  I  ask  your  pardon  for  sayin'  it,  ma'am ! 
an'  I  wouldn't  say  it  only  it's. the  truth !" 

With  all  Dolly's  habitual  respect  for  Paul  she  was  going  to 
make  him  a  sharp  answer  when  the  entrance  of  the  priest  gave 
a  turn  to  her  thoughts.    Taking  them  into  the  back  parlor, 

Father  B went  to  a  secretary  and  took  out  a  letter  which 

he  handed  to  Dolly  with  a  smile. 
The  old  woman's  hand  trembled  so  that  she  could  not  take 


THK    IKISJI    iiIRL    IM    AM?..     .A. 


117 


It.    "  Won't  you  road  it  for  mo,  your  reverence  V  slie  said  in  a 

faint  voice ;  I'm  afeard " 

"  Don't  be  afraid,  U.cn/'  said  Father  B ,  after  glancing 

over  tlio  letter,   "hero's  a  draft  for  three  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars!    Do  you  bear  1" 

''  I  do,  your  reverence,  I  do  !"  Raid  Dolly,  fnllins  back  in  her 
chair,  as  pale  as  death  ;  the  next  moment  she  started  up  with 
sudden  enerrry  and  a  kind  of  hysterical  laugh,  and  snatchinc^ 
the  paper  from  the  priest's  hand,  thrust  it  into  Paul's. 

What  are  you  about,  woman  7"  said  the  hunchback  sharply. 
"  Keep  your  money  when  you  have  it." 

"  I  won't  keep  it,  then,  nor  I  can't  keep  it.    If  I'm  a  fool 
as  you  say  I  am,  I'm  not  fit  to  keep  it.     Yonm  keep  it  for  me,' 
for  I  tell  you  it's  yours  as  much  as  it's  mine." 

It  was  no  use  trying  to  reason  her  out  of  this  notion,  and  all 
the  priest  could  get  her  persuaded  to  do  was  to  allow  Paul  to 
put  the  money  in  the  bank-but  even  that  in  his  own  name. 

It  18  hard  to  say  which  was  the  happiest  on  that  occasion. 
Father  B ,  Paul,  or  old  Dolly  Sheehan. 


118 


BE3SY    CONWAY  :    OR 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Meanwhile  Bessy  Conway  was  "  getting  along  first-rate," 
as  her  friends  would  say.  Sally's  conduct  became  at  last  alto- 
gether intolerable,  and  her  mistress  was  obliged  to  part 
with  her,  Mrs.  Hibbard,  like  many  other  ladies,  had  a 
great  aversion  to  Intelligence  Offices,  and  said  to  Mrs.  Walters 
that  she  thought  she  would  try  an  advertisement  as  she  had 
got  some  pretty  good  servants  by  that  means  in  times  past. 

"  Well !  you  need  be  in  no  hurry,  Matilda !"  said  Mrs.  Wal- 
ters, "  better  wait  a  week  or  so,  and  perhaps  you  might  hear 
of  some  good  girl  out  of  place,  and  Bessy  will  be  very  glad  to 
do  the  housemaid's  work  till  you  get  one." 

This  arrangement  was  very  satisfactory  to  all  parties,  and 
when  Bessy  had  been  some  days  acting  in  her  new  capacity, 
Mrs.  Hibbard  said  to  her  one  morning  :  "  Now,  Bessy,  as  you 
seem  t'  get  along  so  well  with  my  work  in  addition  to  Mrs. 
Walters',  Avhat  do  you  think  if  you  would  take  Sally's  place, 
and  I  will  give  you  the  same  wages  I  gave  her  1  I  am  very 
much  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  you  do  your  work, 
and  still  more  so  with  the  spirit  in  which  you  go  about  it." 

Bessy's  heart  jumped  at  the  thoughts  of  earning  so  much 
money,  and  she  was  scarcely  less  pleased  to  find  that  Mrs.  Hib- 
bard thought  so  well  of  her,  but  still  she  would  not  think  of 
closing  such  a  bargain  without  consulting  Mrs.  Walters.  "  What- 
ever she  says,  ma'am,  I'm  willing  to  do." 

"  Oh  !  of  course,  Bessy,  I  did  not  for  a  mome«t  suppose  that 
you  would  engage  with  me  without  having  obtained  the  cou- 


THE   IRISH   OlnL   IS   AMERICA.  Hg 

^ent  of  your  mistress,  but  I  am  pretty  certain  that  Ae  will 

""raX:-:- '"  --'--  "■»  -  ^^  <■■-»  ^--^ 

ot  Her  little  T.pperary  girl,  who  was  able  and  willin.,  f„  Hi, 
1^1.-50  the  duties  of  such  a  situation  i„  a  few  m    ,"hs  "  fte; 
leaving  her  father's  cottage  in  Ardflnnan.     "  T„„re  mv  dear 

"  ™^     :f  *'■  '^^"^  "^^  ''"'*  """"^  -  *»  Sir 's  'slZitr 

the  wo^k'"        *'*  °°"'""'"  "  ■""•  ""'""  '"-'  l'"«-'ar  about 

wi7a  ^'iT'  '"f  "'■/"L"''  ""''™'  ™^"y-  '™=."  -^aid  Bessy 
with  a  smile;  "its  what  Sally  used  to  say.  and  Bridget  loo 
for  . ha    matter,_that  the  devil  himself  wouldn't  plcLe'  l"' 
and  that  a  saint  out  of  heaven  couldn't  bear  her  " 

Hearing  this,  Mrs.  Walters  laughed      "W.il    n  .       t, 
-...ite  sure  that  you  don't  belong  .o°the  lowerre  io"Zi  ye^ 
you  seem  to  please  Mrs.  Hibbard  very  much  inle  ,  nelthc 
do  I  think  you  find  it  so  very  difficult  to  hear  with  her  althou"! 
you  are  not  yet  a  saint  out  of  heaven,  whatever  yo;,  may  b 
"time  to  come    But  what  will  you  do  with  all  the  mon"y  y™ 
are  going  to  make  1"  ■^  ^ 

,    "Well!   I'll  just  tell  you  that,  ma'am,"  said   Bessy    «i 
jn  end  to  write  home  first  of  all  to  a.1.  „./father  and  rn^the 
f  they  want  any  to  let  me  know.    If  things  go  on  as  teTlwi  h 

Ini'  r  ,       }    I  ^^  ""^  ""^""^  ^"  y°"^  '>«n^«  till  I  have  ^ 

I      wheT'the^i:  1"  "^'';  '''  ''  ''"^''^  themsomnn; 
aay  when  they  least  expect  me,  and  help  to  do  for  the  bovs 

vle'rf.''  I:T''T  ''  ^  ^^^"^   ^^'-""^   entirely 
Walters  1    said  the  g,rl  earnestly,  her  face  all  radian    with 
the  anticipated  joy  of  such  a  meeting 

full!f''J  '''  ^,^°f  g'-rl,  Bessy."  said  her  mistress,  her  eyes 

mil  of  tears !  "Rrtlnn/ro-^ -».     .  .    .,  '  *v«'s 

•      "~ °  ""  J""  ^"cnsn  those  unselfish  disposi- 


120 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OE, 


tious  and  think  more  of  others  than  of  yourself,  you  will  be 
sure  to  do  well  in  every  respect,  for  our  good  God  blesses  such 
generous  devotion.  But  I  cannot  take  charge  of  your  treasure 
very  long,  for  I  do  not  know  how  long  I  may  remain  here,  and 
besides  your  money  will  be  better  in  the  Savings  Bank  where 
you  will  get  interest  for  it." 

Bridget  was  by  no  means  satisfied  with  the  change  which 
had  taken  place,  for  Sally  was  a  girl  after  her  own  heart,  and 
althouglTthey  fought  every  hour  of  the  day  when  they  were 
together,  and  sometimes  carried  their  dispute  so  far  that  Wash 
had  to  use  physical  force  to  keep  them  from  coming  to  blows, 
still  there  was  so  much  in  common  between  them  that  they 
sympathized  one  with  the  other  after  their  own  fashion. 
Bessy  Conway  was  not  long  in  the  house  when  they  discovered 
that  she  was  not  "  one  of  them"  and  could  not,  therefore,  be 
admitted  to  their  confidence.  Ellen,  the  children's  maid,  was 
one  of  those  good-natured,  harmless  persons  who  never  by  any 
chance  give  offence  to  any  one,  and  will  rather  make  any  con- 
cession than  "  raise  disturbance."  She  was  naturally  well- 
disposed  and  always  had  the  intention  of  doing  right,  but 
having  no  fixed  principles  and  very  little  instruction,  she  was 
easily  turned  from  the  path  of  rectitude  either  by  threats  or 
persuasions.  She  was,  therefore,  on  excellent  terms  with  the 
two  "  troopers,"  as  Bessy  called  them, — they  were  "  blazers" 
with  old  Wash. 

But  when  Sally  was  finally  and  forever  turned  out,  and 
Bessy  was  installed  with  honor  in  her  place,  Bridget  mounted 
"  the  high  horse"  and  never  had  a  civil  word  to  spare  for  the 
new  hdusemaid  as  loi  g  aa  they  were  together.  Slie  took  every 
opportunity  of  insulting  Bessy,  accusing  her  of  "  treachery," 
"  back-biting,"  hypocrisy."  and  what  not.  It  was  no  use  for 
Bessy  to  tell  her  over  and  over  that  she  never  asked  for  Sally's 
place,  never  thought  of  asking  for  it,  even  when  it  was  vacant. 
In  vain  she  assured  her  that  no  prospect  of  advantage  to  her- 
self would  induce  her  to  undermine  or  seek  to  injure  a  fellow- 


THE    IRISH    GIRL    IX   AMERICA. 


121 


servant-she  might  a.s  well  talk  to  the  winds.    Bridget  had 

made  up  her  mind  that  she  was  "  a  pimp"  and  "  a  deceiver  '■ 

and  moreover  that  "  there  was  a  dirty  turn  in  her  after  all.'" 

^^\ell!  well!"  «aid  Bessy,  "  I  see  there's  no  use  in  contra- 

8den"c e  "'"'  '' ''"'"  ^'''''  "'"  "'""''  ^'  ^°^  "°^  °"^  ^^^''^  «^"- 
''  Oh  !  yes,  leave  it  to  God,"  said  Bridget  with  a  scornful  toss 
of  her  head   "  that's  easy  said,  but  your  pious  airs  won't  give 
baliy  back  her  place,  poor  girl !" 

"  Well,  now,  Bridget,  I  declare  it's  too  bad  for  you  to  be 
blamm'  ^^e  for  Sally  losin'  her  place,"  said  Bessy  with  some 
warmth  ;  "  don't  you  know  very  well  how  often  I  advised  her 
to  take  more  care  of  it  than  she  did,  and  to  try  and  plea.se  her 
mistress  mstend  of  workin'  contradiction  and  givin'  back 
answers  when  she  was  spoken  to  about  any  thin-.  You  know 
a.  well  as  I  do  that  it  wasn't  Sally's  work  was  in^her  held  b 
vis.tm  and  cosherin'  about,  and  raffles,  and  dances,  and  every- 
tnng  of  the  sort.  If  she  had  minded  her  business,  and  let 
tuch  fooleries  alone,  she'd  be  here  yet." 

Wash  hastened  to  give  his  testimony  to  the  same  effect,  but 
Bridge  cut  them  both  short  with  an  imperative  order  to  "shut 
up.  and  not  be  deavin'  her  ear.  with  their  nonsense."  She 
knew  what  she  knew,  and  that  was  all  about  it 

tolf  v.'f  ''  '?''''  ®'"^  '''''  ^'''^  ^^^^  <^o.yn  one  day 

o  the  kitchen,  and  who  should  be  sitting  there  but  Sally  in 

her  flounced  plaid  silk  and  light  velvet  bonnet.     She  hard  y 

c^ondescended  to  return  Bessy's  salutation,  but  Bridget  spoko 

"There!"  said  she,  "you  see  it's  true  enoujrh  that  'there 
"ever  was  one  door  shut,  but  there  was  another  open'-now 
Sally  has  got  a  first-rate  place  in  a  first-class  family  up  town 
where  she  hasn't  scarce  anything  to  do  and  has  Llollar  a 
month  more  wages  than  she  had  here.  There  an't  only  four 
of  a  family  and  they  keep  four  in  help." 

"  Der.r  me !  that  must  be  a  fine  place,"  said  Bessy:  "  I  hope 

6 


122 


BESSY    CONWAY  :     OR. 


Sally  vnW  try  and  keep  it.  I'm  as  g,lad  as  can  be  that  she's  s<i 
well  settled," 

Bridget  and  Sally  both  flew  at  her  at  once.  One  called  her 
a  liar,  and  the  other  told  her  she  mightn't  thank  her  for  it. 
Luckily  for  Bessy,  the  door-bell  rang  at  the  moment  and  she 
hurried  up  stairs,  Sally  calling  after  her  to  be  sure  and  tell 
Mrs.  Ilibbard  what  a  fine  place  she  had  got. 

"  I  wouldn't  satisfy  them  to  tell  the  truth,"  said  Sally,  "  and 
I  was  real  glad  you  made  it  up  so  slick.  I  guess  I  an't  going 
to  stay  where  I  am,  for  I  an't  used,  you  know,  to  be  up  at 
five  o'clock  and  it's  pretty  hard  work  cleaning  after  all  sorts 
of  rowdies  in  a  saloon,  for  less  wages,  too,  than  I  had  here. 
Still  I  tell  you  I  was  glad  enough  to  get  it,  for  I  was  about 
tired  going  to  that  office,  and  besides  my  money  was  most  all 
gone." 

"  Well !  I  guess  you'd  best  stay  where  you  are,"  said 
Bridget,  "till  you  make  sure  of  something  better." 

"  I  hear  there's  a  kitchen-girl  wanting  in  the  Northern  Ho- 
tel," said  Sally;  "  I've  a  mind  to  go  and  see  about  it." 

"  What  wages,  did  you  hear  V 

"  Six  dollars— just  what  I  had  from  Mrs.  Ilibbard," 

"Well!  it's  a  great  come-down,  sure  enough,"  said  Bridget; 
"  stiil  I  guess  it's  about  the  best  you  can  do  at  the  present 
time.  Hard  fortune  to  that  ca'cy  jade,  Bessy  Conway! — it  was 
an  ill  wind  drove  her  across  us !" 

"Never  mind,"  rejoined  Sally  with  a  bitter  smile,  "every 
dog  has  his  day,  you  know,  and  '  it's  a  long  lane  has  no  turn' 
— mind  that,  Bridget! — but  I  must  be  off— the  boss  is  the 
devil  of  a  rough  customer,  and  the  old  woman  takes  a  drop 
more  than  she  should ! — he !  he !  he !  a  precious  pair  they 
are !— an't  they  r' 

So  saying,  Sally  took  herself  off  with  a  very  affected  nod, 
and  "Good-bye,  Bridget!  take  care  of  yourself!" 

That  same  evening,  Paul  Brannigan  and  old  Dolly  went  off 
in  company  on  a  tour  of  discovery  to  the  (to  them)  unknown 


THE    IRISH   GIRL   IN    AMERICA. 


123 


regions  of  the  Sixth  Avenue,  wliere  St.  Joseph's  Church  rears 
us  cross  on  high.     They  heard  that  Father  Daly  had  he  ^  a  " 

rTm  TTJT'  ''  '''''  '''''^''  -^  '^-y  -"^<^     ot 
pst  til    they  told  him  of  their  good  fortune.     Only  for  the 

'r';  ciT'  'r:  ^^^  ^^"^  ^°  '-^^^^-'^  ^-^  -  ^  - ': 

day    ft.      h"     It  ""'"^  "'^^'^'  "^  ^"^''"^^  ^--  ^-^  ^he  very 
day  .fter  she  got  the  money,  which  clothes  Paul  put  on  that 

ejenmg  with  great  care,  after  coming  from  his  work,  "  jus  to 

let^h.^  reverence  see  how  a  foolish  old  woman  ^penrho: 

When  the  pair  got  to  Chatham  Square  a  short  colloquy  en- 
sued :n  consequence  of  a  bright  idea  that  occurred  to  Paul. 
tol\\     !    J^'  ''"''■  ^'^^'^"'"  ^^^^  ^^'  -"  -t  onco  comin. 

coach  J  et  I  suppose,  so  it's  the  least  you  may  have  a  ride  non- 
m  one,  ,f  it's  only  for  the  honor  of  the  thing -" 

^^  Well   Paul,  I'm  agreeable,  if  it  doesn't  cosi  too  much." 
Hut  tut,  woman  !  aren't  these  the  President's  coarhes  thaf 
I  was  telhn'  you  about  awhile  agone  7     Sure  it's  waitin  on  th  J 
quality  they  are  day  and  night !" 

Having  ascertained  what  I^articular  stage  would  brin..  them 
the  nearest  to  their  destination.  Paul  bundled  Dolly  in  then 
mounted  after  her.  and  away  they  rattled  over  tl  e  'Ih 
pavemen  .  As  the  lumbering  omnibus  is  not  the  quickest  con 
veyance  in  the  world,  we  may  as  well  go  on  before  and  seeTf 
the  priest  be  there  to  receive  them. 

In  the  front  parlor  of  St.  Joseph's  presbytery,  three  aentle 
men  were  sitting,  one  writing  at  a  desk,  and  the  oUier;  con 

Father  Daly,  the  other  a  tall  stately  man,  with  a  somewha 
cynical  expression  of  countenance,  long  hair  carefully  kept 
and  a  mien  half  lay.  half  clerical,  that  left  you  in  doubt  to 
which  class  he  belonged.    He  was  a  priest,  however,  and  a 

ZTtt  r.i:!  ^!!r_^'  ^-^^'-^"'.^«  ^-^^  --e  notions  in 
g-a  to  __u,  ^auoizj,  noc  oi  Jaith,  which  appeared  very 


124 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


strange  to  Father  Daly,  He  spoke  rather  contemptuously,  too, 
of  some  practices  of  piety  which  the  newly-arrived  Irish  priest 
held  in  high  esteem,  and  so  it  was  that  whilst  both  professed 
the  same  enthusiastic  lovo  for  Mother  Church,  and  were  quite 
in  unison  on  all  matters  of  faith,  there  were  still  so  many  little 
points  of  difference  between  them  that  it  might  bo  said  they 
agreed  to  differ  as  often  as  they  cair.e  together.  Both,  how- 
ever, were  gentlemen  in  the  truest  i.,i\so  of  the  word,  and, 
consequently,  their  disputes  never  exceeded  the  bounds  of 
politeness,  or,  indeed,  of  Christian  charity. 

Oi  Jiat  particular  occasion  they  had  been  speaking  of  All 
Hallows  College,  and  the  number  of  missionaries  it  annually 
turned  out. 

"I  cannot  understand,"  said  Father  Seward,  "how  it  is  that 
vocations  to  the  priesthood  are  so  common  in  Ireland.  Surely 
no  country  in  all  Christendom  produces  so  many  priesta  in 
proportion  to  its  size  and  population." 

"  Well !  /  can  understand  it  as  easily  as  possible,"  returived 
Father  Daly,  "  and  if  you  knew  the  country  as  well  as  I  do, 
you  would  have  no  difficulty  either  in  accounting  for  the  fact." 

"Oh!  I  know  all  you  would  say,"  observed  Father  Seward 
with  an  equivocal  smile,  "  I  have  heard  it  so  often  I  can  say  it 
by  rote — '  Catholic  country' — '  Christian  atmosphere' — '  Chris- 
tian traditions,'  and  so  forth,  and  so  forth.  But  taking  all 
these  into  account,  I  still  confess  myself  at  a  loss  to  explain 
the  enigma." 

"  Excuse  me  if  I  say,  then,  that  my  good  friend  is  duller  of 
apprehension  than  I  ever  took  him  to  be.  If  words  were  mere 
empty  sounds,  then,  indeed,  your  dullness  would  be  excusable, 
but  if  words  represent  ideas,  it  seems  to  me  that  the  veiy 
phrases  you  have  strung  together — pardon  me  if  I  riay  rather 
flippantly — make  the  matter  sufficiently  plain  for  any  compre- 
hension. But  if  the  causes  enumerated  are  not  sufficient  to 
account  for  the  vast  number  of  priestly  vocations  found  in 
Ireland  there  is  vet  another  vhlcli  vou  may  i)vobably  accent 
as  more  conclusive " 


THE    IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA. 


125 


"  Oh !  you  mean  poverty- 


'  Well !  that,  too,  for  tlie  lips  of  a  God-man  have  pronouncotl 
the  poor  '  blessed,'  and  far  bo  It  from  me  to  deny  that  Ireland 
ts  a  poor  country— I  bad  almost  said  '  God  keep  lier  so!'— but 
that  is  not  precisely  what  I  mean.  Tt  is  the  calm  repose,  so  to 
Ppoak,  that  pervades  Iri  'i  life,  the  contontiuent  wliich  springs 
from  true  religion,  and  is  altogether  opi  ised  to  that  feverish 
whirl  of  excitement  in  which  people  here  are  perpetually  en- 
gaged :— honor-seeking  !— mon3y-seekJng  !— offlce-seekin-r  •_ 
progress  l-utility  .'-these  bo  thy  gods,  0  Israel  I-theso" the 
soil  which  are  expected  to  produce  vocations— pshaw !  do  men 
gather  figs  of  thorns,  or  grapes  of  thistles  1" 

"  That's  right.  Father  Malachy,"  said  the  priest  at  the  desk 
ay.ng  down  his  pen  with  a  frank,  hearty  laugh;  "don't  spare 
him,  for  your  life,  for  many  a  time  he  floored  mo  in  argument 
not  with  facLs,  but  assumptions,  and  I  declare  to  you,  Malachy' 
he  brazened  it  out  on  mo  often,  just  because  my  logic  wasn't  sj 
sharp  as  his.  Now,  Father  Seward  I  I'm  glad  to  see  you  liave 
mot  your  match !" 

"  Still  I  am  not  convinced,"  said  Father  Seward,  "no  argu- 
ment can  persuade  me  that  God  does  not  provide  materials  for 
the  work  He  will  have  done.  Wherever  He  is  pleased  to  es- 
tablish His  Church  it  must  surely  be  a  part  of  the  Divine 
economy  to  provide  for  the  perpetuation  of  the  priesthood." 

"And  does  He  not  provide  for  it  here?"  said  Father  Daly 
with  the  slightest  possible  show  of  exultation.  "  If  not  in  one 
way,  assuredly  in  another.  Seeing  that  the  restless  spirit  of 
the  world  reigns  paramount  in  these  new  countries,  and  that 
all  men  are  entangled  in  the  meshes  of  worldly  care  and 
solicitude,  the  Almighty  Ruler,  instead  of  striking  water  from 
the  hard  rock,  brings  streams  from  the  old  founts  of  Christian- 
ity in  far-off  lands  to  fertilize  His  infant  Church.  So  long  as 
the  water  is  provided  pure  and  in  sufficient  quantitv,  what 
matters  it  to  you  where  it  comes  from  V 

-1  _,  .V..J..J.UI  ,.„j.,     icLLuiica  Jruvxior  Seward,  ''and 


126 


IlESSY    CONMVAY  ;     OR, 


dropping  metaphor  foi*  tlio  present,  I  llihik  no  ono  can  doubt 
that  a  clergy  taken  from  amongst  tho  people  of  tho  country 
would  be  nioro  eOlcient  for  good  that  any  foreign  mission- 
aries, no  matter  how  devoted  or  how  exemplary!" 

"  I  don't  believe  a  word  of  it,"  said  Father  Daly  quickly  and 
decidedly  ;  "  you  know  as  well  as  I  do  that  every  country  now 
within  tho  palo  of  tho  Church  was  first  brought  in  by  mission- 
aries from  abroad " 

"  Oh !  of  course,  of  course,  that  U  understood— indeed  it 
could  not  bo  well  otherwise— but  when  tho  Church  so  estab- 
lished has  outlived  the  period  of  infancy  and  grown  to  man's 
estate,  is  it  not  in  tho  nature  of  things  that  it  should  try  to  do 
for  itself,  and  manage  its  own  business  1" 

This  was  meant  as  a  knock-down  ar^umont  by  Father  Sew- 
ard, and  even  Father  Molloy  considerod  it  unan.nverable.  He 
looked  anxiously  at  his  friend,  and  his  fac  -  brightened  up 
again  when  he  saw  him  smiling. 

"  Certainly,  my  dear  sir,"  said  ho,  "  certainly  you  have  a 
right  to  manage  your  own  affairs,  and  are  quite  old  enough  to 
do  it,  but  why  do  you  not  do  it  ?— why  is  it  still  left  for  the 
most  part  to  foreigners  1  I  should  like  to  know  how  your 
spiritual  wants  would  be  supplied  at  this  very  hour  were  it  not 
for  the  foreign  priests  who  flock  to  your  shores.  Why,  my 
very  good  friend,  I  am  filled  with  admiration  at  t'le  bountiful 
dispensation  ot  divine  Providence  in  your  regard— indeed  I 
am,  and  I  cannot  I.clp  thinking  that  it  shows  a  want  of  grati 
tudo  on  your  part— I  speak,  of  course,  collectively— to  mur- 
mur at  the  kind  of  provision  made,  because  it  is  not  exactly 
the  kind  you  would  choose." 

"  But  we  do  not  murmur,  by  no  means,"  said  Father  Seward 
very  earnestly ;  "  I  hope  we  are  truly  thankful  for  the  spiritual 
succor  we  receive — — " 

"  Humph !"  said  Father  Molloy,  looking  round  over  hia 
shoulder,  "  thankful,  indeed  !  we  know  how  thankful  you  are, 
but  that  doesn't  matter— the  Lord  conducts  us  here  for  a  pur- 


THE    misn   GIRL   IS   AMERICA. 


127 


poso,  and  to  do  His  holy  will-let  wT^-  may  like  it,  we're  able 
aud  willing  to  do  it,  and  with  a  hlesHinjr  so  wo  will.  As  for 
thanks,  they're  not  of  much  value,  though  I  don't  say  but  noo- 
plojike  to  have  them  when  they  know  they're  entitled  to 

_    The  other  gentlemen  smiled  to  each  other  at  this  character- 
istic  8ally,  and  Father  Daly  said  :  "  After  all.  my  dear  friend 
I   hink  it  makes  little  diflTerence  in  which  hemisphere,  or  unde; 
what  la  1  udo  a  priest  -vas  born-if  he  be  only  detached  from 

sanct  flcation  of  his  own  soul  and  the  edification  of  others,  and 
cntn-ely  devoted  to  the  duties  of  his  state,  he  will  be  woloomod 
everywhere  as  a  true  minister  of  God,  and  no  man  will  esteem 
h  m  the  loss  because  he  came  from  this  or  that  particular 
oountry.  We  are  the  laborers  in  the  vineyard-there  is  m«,-e 
work  than  all  of  us  can  do-let  each  man  do  his  best,  and 
what  he  cannot  do  he  will  not  have  to  account  for,  but.  in 
God  s  name,  let  us  be  united,  remembering  the  fate  of  the 

'>!•"?  r  .  ,i      "  ""^"^  ^'^"^  ^"«  ^'•^^  ^^«  other.     Do  yon 
think  I  holdyour  virtues  in  less  esteem  than  if  you  came  from 
my  o^vn  parish  m  Roscommon  County-before  God  I  do  not 
and,  I  think,  the  same  spirit  would  actuate  most  foreign  priests 
If  you  would  only  meet  them  half  way.  and,  forgetting  the 

itZ  Z  °f  t^'^°°^  "P°"  them  only  as  priests' and 

brethren  m    he  Lord.    As  your  Church  advances  in  age  yon 

will  take  his  own  time  for  that^He  knows  what  is  best  for 

Father  Seward  was  about  to  answer  when  a  ring  at  the  door 

moned  to  the  hall  where  some  persons  wanted  to  see  him     It 

I   I:  ^      )T     '^^  ^'''  ^^'""'^  *°  '''  "^«"^'  -"d  asUed  very 
Kindly  how  they  were  getting  on. 

"  Bedad,  your  reverence."  "said  Paul,  "  we're  most  at  the  top 


128 


nr.ssY  CONWAY  ;    or, 


of  tho  whofil  nl^oall.^ — if  wo  go  on  as  wo'ro  doin',  wo'Il  not 
know  wlmt  to  do  with  our  money." 

"  Wliy,  how  is  that,  Paul  V 

Tlio  atoiy  hoing  told  qavo  Father  Daly  so  much  pleasuro 
that  ho  nskcd  Paul  and  Dolly  to  sit  down,  and  wont  in  to  toll 
his  fri(Mls.  After  a  littlo  ho  .cturnod  and  took  tho  pair  of  ori- 
ginals into  tho  parlor. 

"  Now,  Father  Seward"  said  ho,  "  I  want  to  make  you  ac- 
quainte,!  with  two  of  my  fellow-passcnprorH  who  havo  been  par- 
ticularly fortunate  since  they  canio.  Thoy  have  found  a  purse, 
I  believe." 

Dolly  hastened  to  correct  this  .supposed  mistake.  "  No,  no, 
your  r<«verence,  that  wasn't  it,  at  all— I  ask  your  pardon'  for 
oontradictin'  you— wo  didn't  find  tho  purse,  you  see,  but  got 
it  from— whoro's  that  it  came  from,  Paul  1 

"  From  Cincinnati !" 

"  Ay,  that's  tho  place— well !  it  came  from  there,  your  rever- 
ence, and,  ochono  !  it  never  belonged  to  anybody  else  but  my 
own  poor  boy,  aii',  indeed,  it  was  his  hard,  hard  earnin'. 

"  You  are  certainly  very  fortunate,  my  good  woman !" 
observed  Father  Seward  ;  "but  what  do  you  intend  to  do  with 
your  money"?" 

"  What  would  she  do  with  it,"  put  in  Father  Molloy  witli 
assumed  gravity,  "  only  set  up  a  tra-orn,  herself  and  this  decent 
man,  if  they  onco  know  how  to  doctor  the  liquor,  they  can 
make  their  fortune  in  no  time." 

<•  Well,  supposin'  we  did,  your  reverence,"  said  Paul  in  a 
respectful  tone,  "  we  might  happen  to  pay  too  dear  for  what 
we'd  make,  an'  we  wouldn't  put  our  souls  in  danger  for  the 
sake  of  a  penny  of  money." 

"  'Deed  wo  wouldn't,  Paul,  agra,  'deed  wo  wouldn't," 
chimed  in  Dolly;  "  haven't  we  more  money  now  than  we  know 
what  to  do  with,  and  what  do  we  want  but  a  livin'  while  we're 
herel" 

The  priests  were  much  amused  and  no  little  interested  by  this 


TIIE  iiiwn  (iiRr,  IN  AMcniCA.  129 

.l.,S«la,^,o„pl„,  »„  ,„„„  ,„,,    ,„.„j 

over  SCO  liim  at  Iiomol"  '     '     '^  '' 

Dolly  .lr„w  l,o,-  oyoli,!,,  toBelhcr  so  m  to  ino,-„a»o  tl,o  now.r 

™.^e.  o,a  „,,y  ur::ru:;;r^t^^^^^^^^ 
iv."h!:"«oUT;:f;f;:'''"'"'''°"'°'^°"  — >  »• 

"  How  is  that,  Jlrs.  Shoolian  1" 

I'  Take  caro  what  you  say  1"  whispered  Paul 

tion  'rid  Dot  h  "  ."r  T  '"^'  "'^"  '^  ^^^-^'^  -«  ^'^^  <i-«- 
^"Wk     ,,        ^  ^""^  ''^  ^^^'  '^''^  '"  ^  whisper, 
"howd^ov*""!  y°V^"«^«^  'b«  P"«str'  said  Father  Daly 

as  li^e  1  n  1   ;        '"'^         '^'''  '''''''''''  that-because  he's 

It  rd^:;:nt;^  ^  ^'"^^^^"'  ^^^°^  ^^^-'^ '«"  --  ^^'«  ^^^ 

hii'tLt''  !'  "^"^  'Z  '"  "'^  ^^'^^^  • '  ^^"^'•^'^  P«->  between 

Pathe    Molloy  laughed  heartily  and  Father  Daly  laid  his 

'rite  viri-J^;  ''-'.'-  ^^  >^'«  '^-^>-  ^Hend! 

has  a  ..ric  tw^rp;;:^:;^ ' "''' ''' " ''''  ^^^'  ^-"^- 


130 


UES3V    CONWAY;     OR, 


"  So  I  perooivo,"  retiirnud  his  friend  with  tho  clightest  poa. 
Bible  curl  of  his  thin  lip  ;  "  I  should  like  to  know  what  it  is." 

"  Anan  1"  (jucstioned  Dolly. 

"Tell  his  rovorcnco,"  said  Father  Daly,  "  what  marks  and 
tokens  you  have  on  a  priest  1" 

•'  Well !  dear  knows  that's  what  I  couldn't  do,"  said  Dolly  ; 
"  I  know  it  myself  but  I  couldn't  tell  it  if  yon  wore  to  pay  mo. 
Could  ijou,  Paul  V 

"  Don't  bo  bothcrin'  mo!"  was  Paul's  curt  answer,  whereat 
tho  priests  all  laughed  and  "  the  marks  and  tokens"  wero 
dropped. 

After  some  further  chat  with  tho  two  originals,  during  which 
Father  Seward  managed  to  ingratiate  himself  wonderfully  with 
old  Dolly,  Paul  and  sho  took  their  lenve,  with  a  promise  from 
Father  Daly  to  ])ay  thorn  a  visit  very  soon. 

Dropping  a  low  curtsey  to  each  of  tho  priests,  D0II7  told 
Father  Seward  when  she  came  to  liim,  that,  indeed,  his  rever- 
ence was  more  of  a  priest  than  a  body  would  think  to  look  at 
him,  and  then  marched  after  Paul. 

"  There's  a  compliment,"  said  Father  MoUoy  when  tho  door 
closed  on  the  visitors. 

"  A  rather  equivocal  one,  truly,"  replied  Father  Seward  aa 
he  shook  back  his  long  hair,  and  drew  up  his  shirt-collar  ;  "  if 
I  wore  only  from  the  Queen's  County  it  would  make  a  wonder- 
ful difference !" 

"Not  so  much  as  you  think,'*  said  Father  Daly;  "it  is  not 
the  mere  accident  of  birth  that  influences  Dolly  in  hor  estimate 
of  yon,  but  the  want  of  those  peculiar  traits  which  usually 
characterize  the  priest  in  old  Catholic  countries." 

"  And  what  are  they,  I  pray  you  1" 

"  That's  right,"  said  Father  MoUoy,  rubbing  his  hands  in 
anticipation  of  renewed  hostilities ;  "  that's  right,  Father  Sew- 
ard, I'd  insist,  if  I  were  you,  on  an  explanation." 

"  No  need  to  insist,"  said  Father  Daly  with  a  pleasant  smile, 
"  I  am  quite  willing  to  explain.    The  characteristics  to  which 


TIIK    IRISH    <;IKL    IN    AMKniOA. 


J3l 


I  aUudo  avo,  porhapn,  InoonipuflMo  with  tlm  mt,.ro  of  our 
Amoncan    brethren   and    iho    ..on.stn.c,ion   of  sodc.y    .7 

n  o  t:;  ^  ^"!;  "^.  ^'''--'^^ '-  '-'"''^  -^i  that  LL  ; 

poan  ,r,o  ts.  but  ,n  a  peculiar  n.annor  to  tho.o  of  tho  Imh 
C  urch.  wi^oeo  relations  to  their  Hook.s  arc,  if  po.s.sib]  .  er 
an  more  .nti.atc  than  any  others.  The  timo  Is  far  di^t  " 
1  "'Z  ^"'"-^^-^vhon  tho  youn,.u'orM  prieat«  of  Ainoricau 
b  rth  Will  exhibit  tho  marhs  by  which  old  Dolly  nnd  such  a 
•she  are  wont  to  reco.nuV.o  'hi^  rovoronce.'  You  boon"  to\ 
new  order  of  things,  and  a  new  phase  of  socle  yt^to:: 
older  and  loss  artificial."  ^' 

W") ,     y<  u  aro  flner  gentlomon  nml  soom  lo  ll,i„k  a  deal  mor« 
of  yoarBe  v»«  than  „•.  „„.    i„,,j  „,„j ,,,,  „„„,„,.„"  """« 

W;-" !  I  sliouM  bo  .sorry  lo  say  ,„,"  Fall>.r'  Daly  rq.lW  • 

"Perfectly  TO,"  said  Father  Seward  rl«ln.r    ..I  ],„       „ 
meant  „„  „«e„eo,  nor  wIU  I  take  any.     Pat  e^Pa  trick  her  'h 
^o.nR  wha   ho  can  to  B.ir  up  strife  ,,,     „,.„  „,,  ,„„  j  „„';',  ,^ 

Me,         n«t  succeed."    And         .„„„k  his  tinker  at  Fat^^e" 
Molloy  with  a  grave  smile.  •"  r«ner 

"Weill  I  own  I  was,"  .^ij  „,„  p„,„„  „,y,„,„,,  ... 

wTho^lf  *■"'''"•     '  ""•"«'"  "'  ■"*  >■-  »  «"'■»' '-     o 
nreeze  why  wo  must  ,,„ly  make  tho  most  of  the  ealn.      r,.,„. 

hke  rlr  J,   ,  ."."''■  "^  '"''  '""«'^k^''I>er,  beckoning 

hke  a  ghost,  and  her  patience  .,,  none  of  the  best  I  can  tell 
yon."    So  saying,  he  led  the  way  to  tho  suppor-taMo 


ill 


132 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER  X. 


It  was  no  trifle  of  a  job  for  Bessy  Conway  to  indite  such  a 
letter  as  she  wished  to  send  home.  She  could  write  a  tolera- 
bly good  hand,  but  her  grammar  was  not  equal  to  her  cali- 
graphy,  save  and  except  what  orthography  had  been  drummed 
into  her  head  by  old  Master  Lenihan,  late  principal  of 
Ardfinnan  school,  the  Grossest  and  roughest,  yet  kindest, 
withal,  that  ever  wielded  "  the  rod  of  empire"  in  village 
school.  Writing  a  letter  was  something  that  Bessy  had 
never  been  called  upon  to  do  .at  home,  and  now  when  she 
found  herself  actually  sitting  down  to  the  performance  of 
that  solemn  act,  the  undertaking  loomed  up  before  her  in 
awful  magnitude.  It  was  easy  to  say  she  would  write,  so  long 
as  her  promise  had  reference  to  the  future,  but  it  was  quite  a 
different  thing  when  ink  and  paper  were  in  formidable  array 
before  her  on  the  table,  and  the  pen  actually  in  her  hand. 
Had  it  been  to  any  one  else  she  thought  she  would  never  have 
courage  to  begin,  but  as  memory  brought  back  the  fireside 
at  home,  and  the  group  of  ever-loved,  never-forgotten  faces, 
and  the  tears  that  would  fall  from  many  eyes  at  the  reading 
of  "  Bessy's  letter,"  all  her  fears  vanished,  and  she  set  about 
her  task  with  the  greatest  alacrity,  anxious  only  to  cram  as 
much  news  about  America  into  the  letter  as  one  sheet  of  paper 
could  well  carry,  It  is  true  it  took  two  or  three  evenings  to 
complete  the  epistle,  but  when  it  was  completed,  she  felt  quite 
proud  of  her  success,  and  was  sure  they'd  all  wonder  ut  home 
to  see  what  a  fine  letter  she  could  write.    "  I  know  they'll  be 


te  such  a 
5  a  tolera- 
»  her  cali- 
druramed 
ncipal  of 
b  kindest, 
in  i'jUage 
iessy  had 
when  she 
mance  of 
re  her  in 
e,  so  long 
IS  quite  a 
ible  array 
her  hand, 
ever  have 
e  fireside 
;en  faces, 
^  reading 
3et  about 
cram  as 
;  of  paper 
enings  to 
felt  quite 
at  home 
hey'Il  be 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IX   AMERICA.  I33 

read  a  word  of,  an'  it  travelLd  fh      !  ,       ^  ^"^  '^"^  '^^"^d 
had  to  come  to  Alas  tt  121!     If  ''""*'^  '"""^'  ^"^ 

1-ur  to  make  ouj  wtt^  wlltit^.    "'  "'  ''  *^°"  ^^""^  ^  ^"" 

^^^^^^::i:i:^r'''z  «-*  ^-  letter  wou^ 

very  carefully  and'    ^^  """^  ^''^»""'^'  ^•^"^^  ^^l^ed  it 

Mufphys  and  N  d';  ^TtoTn  "''f  ""  '''  '^^  ^^^  ^>- 
send  home.  The  letterhead,.  AT ''''''  ''''^  *^^^  ^^^^  ^o 
rection  on  our  part  '"'^'''  ''''^  J"^*  ^  ^^"1«  eor- 

left  the  writer  and  so  on  "  ?"  ^"  "'  ^'^'^  ^^^^'"^ -«  ^'^«^ 
BO  many  things  to  te^you  St  I T  T^  ''''  '^^"^^^'  '  ^-- 
I'd  like  to  lef  you  know  aH  lb  """'^^  ^^'^'"^  ''  ^^S-' 

home,  hut  I'm  Laid  I Ta J  p  tTall "  '"','"^'  ^^'^^^  ^  '''' 
I  Wish  you  were  all  her.  ^m  h^t  IhL  ""  f"^""^^ 
myself  that  you're  far  better  ::;e;ou"rT  t'  '^ 
there's  a  power  of  money  made  here  \Zi^  '"'^ 

makes  it  that  would  be  as  well  wUhon^    .  ?      f  "''"^'  ^  °"^ 

then,  t„at  told  1  ITd  "r'teuTr  '""■  '"""  ""^  "^^  '" 
but  n,  I  never  saw  Cf  t  J;  .",  rr;"  ,  "  "^  '"="°''- 
only  speak  from  hearsay  Tr  h-^  .,  """  '°  """'  '  <^''» 

any^y,  I  Lave  seen  pLty  of  tt  ""  T'^'  ""  *"■ 
root  from  the  door  withotsLTjZt!;;  '  T  '"  ' 
there,  a  po.er  of  Irish  poor  t"L:°vl"rr,'r' 
-  «.«  „  .ay  it.    A„d  so„,el,o,v  „r  ano.her,'"l  think 


— .-tsjr 


134 


BESSY   COKWAY  ;    OR, 


they  look  more  miserable  here  than  the  poor  did  at  home.  II 
would  go  to  your  heart  to  see  the  sights  that  I  see  every  time 
I  go  outside  the  door — indeed,  indeed  it  would— God  break 
hard  fortune  before  every  one !  And  they  tell  me  I  only  see 
a  little  of  it  after  all,  and  that  there's  more  misery  hid  away 
tip  in  garrets  and  down  in  cellars  than  anybody  living  knows.* 
I  hope  in  God  it  isn't  their  own  fanlt.  They  couldn't  all  do 
well,  everybody  knows  that,  for,  dear  knows !  I  often  see  Irish 
people  here  that  you'd  wonder  what  part  of  Ireland  they  came 
from,  and  sure  enough  you'd  bb  apt  to  think  it's  little  business 
they  had  to  come  to  America — but  still  I  know  myself  there's 
hundreds  and  hundreds  that  might  do  better  than  they  do,  if  it 
wasn't  for  the  liquor,  as  I  was  tellin'  yod  before.  If  the  Lord 
would  only  take  that  curse  from  them,  and  put  it  out  of  their 
way  altogether,  there's  many  a  one  would  turn  out  different 
But  though  there's  so  many  Irish  people  here  in  the  height  of 
misery,  it's  a  comfort  to  see  how  many  of  them  are  decent  and 
well  off.  There's  hardly  a  church  in  New  York  whore  you'll 
not  see  a  congregation  of  them  with  a  priest  of  their  own  at 
the  altar,  and  only  for  the  fine  churches  and  the  beautiful 
pictures,  and  everything  that  way,  I'd  forget  sometimes  that 
it  wasn't  at  home  in  Ardflnnan  I  was  with  Father  Ryan  there 
in  his  robes  before  me  and  the  people  of  our  own  parish  kneel- 
ing about  me.    God  knows  will  I  over  see  that  sight  again. 

"Ned  Finigan  has  set  up  a  fine  public-house  with  a  picture 
of  Ardflnnan  Castle  over  the  door,  and  from  that  it's  called 
The  Castle  Inn.  I  wouldn't  know  what  the  picture  wa3 
myself,  but  Ned  says  it's  Ardflnnan  Castle,  and,  of  course,  he 
knows  best.  I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  himself  and  Ally  Mur- 
phy made  a  match  of  it,  and  I  declare  to  you,  Ally  looks  fine 

*  If  Besey  Conway  were  writing  now  she  would  have  a  different 
story  to  tell.  The  misery  indeed  still  exists— It  cannot  be  otherwise 
in  a  city  like  New  York,  but  the  -leserving  poor  have  found  active 
and  devoted  friends  In  the  Society  of  St,  Vincent  de  Paul,  now 
established  in  every  part  of  the  city. 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA. 


135 


and  sociable  behind  the  counter-it's  the  bar  they  call  it- 
and  so  well  she  may,  for  she  wears  the  best  of  dress,  surely 
Aed  s  getting  fleshy,  I  think,  and  I'm  afraid  he  takes  a  drop 
too  much  now  and  then,  as  indeed  he  can't  well  help  it  in  the 
busmess  he's  in.  They  tell  me  they're  mak..,g  money  in  hand- 
fuils,  and  sure  enough  they  have  a  fine  place  of  it  now  let  it 
turn  out  as  it  may.  .     t  ii. 

"  Poory  Murphy's  people  are  doing  pretty  well.    Peery 
himself  has  a  dollar  a  day,  they  tell  me,  in  a  store  where  he 
got  to  be  porter,  and  the  boys  are  earning  nearly  as  much  so 
you  see  they're  getting  along  finely.      Mary  has  a  very  good 
place  that  she  got  into  a  month  or  so  after  she  landed,  but  I 
declare  to  you  she     .s  got  to  be  so  proud  and  has  such  a  con- 
ceit out  of  herself  that  there  is  no  standing  her,  all  on  account 
of  the  bit  of  finery  that  she  was  never  used  to  before,  so  it  has 
fairly  turned  v,,  head,  the  creature !     If  you  met  her  on  the 
road  you  v        i  at  know  her  from  Adam,  for  it's  rattling  in  her 
silks  she       ,..  a  Sunday  when  she  goes  out,  and  a  beautiful 
bonnet  and  veil  that  Mrs.  Herbert  herself  might  wear,  and 
everything  else  to  match  that.    And  then  nothing  would  lerve 
my  lady  but  she  must  get  her  ears  pierced  and  she  has  drops 
hanging  down  a'most  to  her  shoulders.  It  kills  Mary  and  Al  v 
entirely  that  they  can't  get  '  the  old   woman'  (that's   their 
mother)  to  dress  up  a  bit  too,  but  Bridget  won't  hear  to  them 
at  all  at  all  and  you'd  die  laughing  to  see  how  they'll  ^o  to 
the  other  side  of  the  street  from  her  and  Peery  because  the 
old  woman  goes  out  in  her  dowdy  cap  and  blue  cloth  cloak 
But  indeed  it's  not  often  they  go  out  with  them,  and  when  tliey 
do  that  s  the  way  they  serve  them.    I'm  thinking  Mary  is  not 
putting  much  to  the  fore  more  than  if  she  was  at  home  in 
Ardfinnan     She  spends  all  she  earns  on  foolish  dress  that  only 
makes  a  show  of  her.  and  indeed  she's  not  the  only  one  here 
ha  does  that,  for  I  know  plenty  of  girls  from  our  o;vn  county 
that  have  been  years  and  years  earning  good  wages  and  have 
u^^xiing  Lo  snow  lur  it  but  dress.    Some  of  them  haven't  eveu 


186 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;    OR, 


that,  for  when  a  pinch  comes  on  them  they  have  either  to  sel- 
thpir  things  for  very  little  or  put  them  in  the  pawn,  and  when 
they  do  that,  it's  seldom  they  ever  get  them  back.  Still  there's 
a  good  many  fh\s  that  save  money  and  send  plenty  home,  as 
you  know  yourficlves,  and  they  say  the  Irish  girls  give  a  great 
deal  of  money  to  the  Churches,  and  are  willing  to  help  every- 
thing good  that  is  going  on.  Thank  God  they're  not  all  as 
foolish  as  them  I  was  telling  you  about,  God  grant  them  more 
sense !  If  they  were  all  like  them  there  would'nt  be  be  so  many 
money -letters  going  home  from  America  every  year  that  comes. 
"  And  that  puts  me  in  mind  of  my  own  little  penny,  in  re- 
gard to  what  I'm  going  to  do  with  it.  Mrs.  Walters  has  been  a 
lucky  mistress  to  me,  for  I  have  double  wages  now  from  her 
and  the  lady  of  the  house.  I  hadn't  much  clothes  to  buy  since 
I  came  here,  for  my  mistress  gave  me  two  nice  dresses  and 
you  know  I  had  a  good  share  from  home  with  me.  So  I  have 
most  of  what  money  I  earned  to  the  good,  and  I'd  wish  to  know 
if  you  want  any  of  it  at  the  present  time.  If  not,  I  can  havo 
interest  in  the  Savings  Bank  for  it,  Mrs.  Walters  says,  and,  of 
course,  it  will  be  getting  more  every  day.  Whenever  you 
come  short  you  have  only  to  send  me  word,  and  you'll  have  it 
by  the  next  post.  Now  mind  and  w^iiie  as  soon  as  ever  you 
get  this,  for  I'll  think  every  day  a  week  'till  I  have  an  answer. 
And  be  sure  you  tell  me  everything  that  happened  since  I  left, 
and  how  you  all  are,  especially  my  father,  on  account  of  that 
cough  that  was  troubling  him  this  time  back.  Let  me  know 
did  the  girls  get  much  of  the  wool  spun,  and  how  many  tuba 
of  butter  you  made  since  I  left.  Let  me  know  how  my  aunt 
Biddy  and  her  family  is,  and  let  me  know  did  Tommy's  Pat 
come  to  America  last  harvest  as  he  said  he  would.  Give  my 
best  respects  to  Father  Ryan  and  Father  Connelly,  and  tell 
them  we  have  fine  Irish  priests  here,  just  all  as  one  as  if  we 
were  at  home.  So  no  more  at  present  from  your  loving  and 
affectionate  daughter  'til  death, 

"  Bbssy  Conway. 


THE    IRISH   GIRL    IN   AMERICA. 


13t 


"  P.  S.— Let  me  know  is  my  Cousin  Catherine  stUl  living  with 
Mrs.  Herbert  at  the  big  house,  or  is  there  anything  new  eoin" 
on  there."  " 

It  might  be  that  Bessy's  postscript  was  no  exception  to  post- 
scripts in  general,  especially  ladies'  postscripts,  which  are  said 
to  contain  the  chief  point  of  the  letter.    However  that  micrht 
be,  she  blushed  as  she  read  it  over  to  herself,  and  theri  fixFng 
her  eyes  abstractedly  on  tho  letter  she  sat  for  some  moments 
lost  in  thought,  till  the  voice  of  Mrs.  Walters  calling  her  made 
her  suddenly  start  from  her  reverie.    Hastening  down  to  Mrs 
Walters'  room  she  found  that  lady  with  an  open  letter  in  her 
hand,  and  a  heightened  color  on  her  delicate  cheek. 
"  Bessy  !"  said  she,  "  I  have  got  news  for  you." 
" Well,  maam !  I  hope  it's  good  news." 
"  That  I  cannot  say,"  replied  Mrs.  Walters  with  a  smile ;  "  I 
am  going  home  next  month,  Bessy !— I  have  just  had  a  letter 
from  the  Captain— he  hopes  to  be  here  in  two  weeks  from  now, 
and  I  am  to  return  with  him  when  he  goes." 

Bessy's  face  grew  very  red,  then  very  pale ;  her  lips  quivered 
and  her  eyes  filled  with  tears.    After  trying  once  or  twice  to 
speak,  but  without  success,  she  cleared  her  throat  several  times 
and  at  last  faltered  out : 

"  WeU !  Mrs.  Walters  dear,  I'm  sorry  to  hear  it— indeed  I 
am,  from  my  heart  out!"  and  she  /airly  burst  into  tears,  and 
covered  her  face  with  her  hands. 

Her  mistress  laid  her  hand  kindly  on  her  shoulder,  and  said 
in  a  voice  that  was  not  free  from  emotion  :  "  I  know  you  arc 
sorry,  my  poor  Bessy!  and,  indeed,  I  am  sorry  to  leave  you 
behind,  for  it  may  be  long  before  I  get  another  to  suit  me  as 
you  did.  But  I  could  not  expect  you  to  go  back  with  me ; 
now  that  you  are  here,  of  course  you  will  remain  to  try  your 
fortune,  and  I  have  no  doubt  at  all  but  you  will  do  well 
There  is  only  one  thing  that  makes  me  fear  for  you ;  but  never 
mind  now,  we  can  talk  of  that  at  another  time.  Good  night. 
Bessy ;  say  a  prayer  for  me  and  mine  before  you  sleep." 


138 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


This  was  a  severe  trial  for  Bessy.  She  had  received  much 
real  kindness  from  Mrs.  Walters,  and  having  left  home  in  her 
service,  she  was  doubly  attached  to  her  as  a  sort  of  link  be- 
tween the  present  and  the  past.  She  felt  that  no  mistress  in 
America  could  ever  be  to  her  what  Mrs.  Walters  was,  and  a 
sense  of  loneliness  chilled  her  heart,  for  it  seemed  as  though 
she  were  about  to  lose  her  only  friend,  and  be  left  amon^t 
strangers  in  a  strange  land.  '^ 

Then  did  the  voice  of  the  tempter  whisper  within  her,  "  It's 
your  own  fault,"  repeating  the  words  of  Herbert.     The  warm 
blood  rushed  to  her  cheek  and  her  pulses  quickened      "  I 
might  bo  his  wife!"  she  said  softly  to  herself,  "  he  told  me  so 
Why  wouldn't  I  take   him  at  his  word?"     She  sat  rausinrr 
awhile,  but  her  thoughts  took  a  different  direction:     "Non"^ 
sense!  Bessy,  sure  you're  no  wife  for  the  likes  of /im-it'a 
the  devil  that's  putting  such  notions  in  your  head !— wouldn't 
you  be  a  nice  daughter-in-law  for  a  grand  lady  like  Mrs.  Her- 
bert, and  sure  you  wouldn't  know  what  to  do,  or  how  to  act 
if  you  were  brought  home  to  the  big  house !    Brought  home' 
indeed !    I'm  sure  Master  Henry  himself  never  dar^  show  his 
face  there  if  he'd  marry  the  likes  of  you,  Bessy  Conway!  and 
another  thing,  he's  not  the  right  sort,  and  it  wouldn't  be  for 
the  good  of  your  soul,  so  put  that  out  of  your  head  once  for 
all."     She  thought  of  Paul's  insinuations,  and  her  heart  sank 
withm  her  ;  although  Henry  Herbert  could  never  be  anything 
to  her  more  than  he  was,  she  could  not  bear  to  think  that  there 
was  guilt  on  his  soul— that  some  dark  crime  hung  over  him 
like  the^shadow  of  death.    No !  no !  she  could  not,  would  not 
believe  it;  so  fair  a  seeming  could  not  be  so  false,  or  cover  a 
heart  seared  and  blackened  with  sin  ! 

Captain  Walters  arrived  in  due  time,  and  the  next  two  weeks 
were  weeks  of  bustle  and  preparation,  farewell-parties,  and 
visits  P.  D.  A.,  as  the  French  have  it  {Pour  Dhe  Adieu— '^  to  say 
farewell").  There  was  sorrow,  too,  in  Mrs,  Hibbard's  house 
where  every  one  loved  Mrs.  Walters  ;   even  Bridget  with  all 


THE   IHlSn   niRI.   IS    iMKIIIOA. 


I8» 


fcer  cro«„«,  and  ill-temper  had  „o„„  b„t  ,he  ki„de,t  f,eU„„, 
tor-  the  gentle  Enjlish  visitor,  and  old  Wash  MnKhJ^rT 
great  baby  at  the  thoughts  of  losin,  her  "  M^  "  ?r  d  " 
ter  and  ftfty-cent  piece  she  gave  me  "  tte  id  Z,  ^  u""'"'" 
;and  she  air,s  had  a  kind  word  fo  'po  r^^sh  3.  ""^ 
f"I  bad,  I  do!  Wish  the  Cap'n  hadn't  c^me-"  A,  M 
what  ,e,.sh  aspiration  was  o'ly  heard  hyTle  girlt  it  s^eTtt 

.t:l  7wo  tonf werivri'"? ""'.'"'  -^"'^  ^"*« 

grief  of  her  hearl  '^  '  '''"'''  "«''  >"««""i  the 

To  Besfy's  great  surprise  one  day  the  Captain  asked  her 
where  the  hunchback  could  be  found,  and  she  blush  da,  she 
gave  the  required  information,  she  knew  not  why.  Tharv  rv 
.vemng  Pa„,  was  surprised  by  a  visit  from  Captain  S 
,;''7  *■'  ™  ^■='y  Sla«  ">  see  safe  back.  Dolly  was  not  in  ,t 
Teller  *°  ''''-''"  "='"='  '"  "  '-'y^  -"-Tprreld 

.n::rr:  r  t;:;*  toTfii  -^  ^^ "  -  -^  - 

»nd     ,   f,    ^  f""*'  '=™''  '<>  *"'  '«'«'«'  soon  after  I  left 
and  asked  to  see  Bessy,  but  Mrs.  WaHers  sent  him  away  with 
ont  h,s  errand,  and  gave  him  some  wholesome  =1^^?: 
then  she  has  heard  nothing  of  him  excent  .h«  I. 
sometimes  walking  „p  and  down  in  fr  n  o?  the  1  o„se™  hI:: 
you  seen  anything  Of  him  7"  "le  i.ouse.    Have 

"Nothing  worth  speakin'  of  your  honor f    v  .  •    .. 
.-e    going    to  take    Mrs.    ^Zj^Z^^  ^  - 

.:ur;r£^br;:rro:.*-'i---.-' 

ioave  Bessy  Conway  particulai'r  i„  ,7""'    .'^'      "'"'''  '*' 
y  parncuiauy  m  7jour  charge— the  only 


140 


BE99Y    CONTTAY  ;    OR, 


danger  she  apprehends  for  her  is  from  Herbert,  and  shetTiinks 
you  have  a  check  on  hira  that  no  one  else  has." 

"  Maybe  I  hare,  yonr  honor,  maybe  I  haven't,— howsoni- 
over,"  and  he  nodded  sij?nificantly,  "  we'H  da  onr  beatr— I  say 
we'll  do  our  best,  Captain  !" 

"  Well !  I'll  tell  you  what  yaa'll  do,"  said  Captaiiv  Walters 
with  his  hand  on  the  door;  "when  you  find  him  out,  tell  him  I 
want  to  see  him  immediately — immediately,  rememt>er  \" 

"  Never  fear,  your  honor  ?    I'll  remember  !" 

"Lest  be  shoald  neglect  coming,"  said  the  Captain,  "tell 
him  it's  on  a  business  of  importance  tc  himself,  Oood-bye, 
Paul !  I'm  sorry  I  can't  wait  to  see  Mrs.  Sheehan  of  wliose 
good  fortune  I  heard  with  much  pleasure.  Tell  hor  so,  will 
you  1  I  am  always  glad  to  hear  of  the  Gamek  i>eople  doinnj 
well." 

"I  don't  misdoubt  you,  Captain,"  said  Paul  by  way  of  a 
compliment,  and  the  Captain  laughed  as  ho  hurried  down 
slairs,  Paul  hobbling  after  him  with  all  the  speed  he  could 
make.  "  But  I  say,  Paul  f"  cried  the  Captain  turning  on  tho 
first  landing  as  the  thought  struck  him,  "  I  say,  what's  cnme 
of '  the  biggest  man  on  board  V  " 

"  Oh !  your  honor  means  Ned  Finigan  ?— he's  well  enough, 
and  growing  mighty  fat,  as  well  he  may  I  he's  keeping  a  liquor 
store,  Captain !" 

"  Oh ! — ah  ! — a  liquor  store  f — ^hutti  {—the  very  thing  that  flta 
him ! — I  thought  he  hadn't  much  taste  for  hard  work  ! — good 
bye  again,  my  little  man ! — lose  no  time  in  doing  what  I  told 
you !" . 

In  the  course  of  half  an  hour  Paul  might  be  seen  in  close 
conversation  with  his  friend  Mike  Milligan  at  the  corner  of 
Duane  street,  where  the  old  Shakspeare  Hotel  jutted  out  in  a 
sharp  angle. 

"  And  you're  sure  you  can  find  him  ?  '  said  Papl. 

"Can  I  find  yoj<  ?"  retorted  the  precocious  juvenile,  which 


THE    IRISH   GIRL   IN    AMERICA. 


Ul 


"  Where  is  he,  then  V* 

•'  Not  far  off,  I  guess !"  aaid  Mike  with  a  grin,  and  he  pointed 
oyer  hi8  shouMer. 

"  Oh  I  it's  there,  is  i'.  V 

"  Well !  he  don't  live  there,  but  I  saw  him  go  in  a  little 
while  ago— would  you  like  to  see  him  1" 

"  Yes !  but  I  don't  want  to  go  in.  You  must  get  him  out, 
if  you  can." 

"  I'll  do  it !"  said  Mike,  and  in  he  went  to  the  bar-room, 
with  his  parrot-like  cry  "Daily  Herald !  Buy  a  paper,  sir  !— 
buy  a  paper  l" 

One  of  the  first  that  bought  a  paper  was  Henry  Herbert  who 
sat  moodily  in  a  corner  listening  to  something  that  Dixon  was 
telling  him  in  a  low  earnest  tone.  Dixon  was  much  annoyed 
at  the  newsboy's  interruption,  and  turning  fiercely  bade  him 

"  go  to  the  d 1 !" 

"  I'd  rather  you'd  go  yourself,  sir !" 
"  Get  out  of  here,  or  I'll  ring  your  ear  for  you  *" 
"  I  guess  you'd  better  not,"  said  the  provoking  imp,  "  there's 
M.  P.'s  about!"  And  with  a  mocking  grimace  away  ran  Mike, 
having  pocketed  the  cents  for  Herbert's  paper,  and  made  him 
a,  sign,  moreover,  that  he  was  wanted  outside. 

Twenty  minutes  after.  Captain  Walters  and  Henry  Herbert 
tiat  tete-a-Uie  in  Mrs.  Hibbard's  front  parlor.  The  light  from 
a  triple  chandelier  suspended  from  the  ceiling  fell  full  on 
Herbert's  face,  and  muttering  s.omething  about  "weak  eyes" 
he  slightly  changed  his  position  so  that  his  face  was  partially 
shaded. 

"I  was  told  you  wished  to  see  me.  Captain  Walters!"  said 
Herbert  with  a  sort  of  nervous  tremor  in  his  voice  which  he 
vainly  tried  to  conceal  as  the  frank,  manly  Englishman  fixed 
his  eyes  upon  him. 

"  So  I  did,  Mr  Herbert." 

"May  I  ask  why  r 


■i.  wishcu  to  Speak  to  you  on  a  matter 


142 


BESSY   COX  WAY  1     OR, 


which  no  way  concerns  myself,  but  much  concoina  you.    Mr? 
Walters  returna  with  mo  to  England  in  a  few  day.s.' 

"Well,  sir!" 

"  Well,  sir  !  she  has  a  Bervant-maid — by  name  Bessy  Conway 
— M'ith  whom  I  believe  Mr.  Hoibort  is  not  unacquaint  id !" 

"  Excuse  me,  Captain  Walters  ! " 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Herbert ;  pray  allow  me  to  finish  what  I 
was  about  to  say !"  Herbert  bowed,  and  the  Captain  wcMit  on : 
"  You  are  also  probably  awaro  that  this  youii;;  girl  is  a  sort  of 
•protegee  of  my  wife,  who,  indeed,  \  rovailed  upon  her  to  conu» 
to  America.  She  fears— mark  me,  Mr.  Herbert — Mrs.  WulterH 
fears  to  leave  her  behind  without  any  protection,  for  the  girl 
is  young,  and  unusually  good-looking  for  one  iu  her  station." 

"Ha!  Captain  Walters  has  found  ihai  out!"  Herbert  ex- 
claimed with  a  flushed  cheek. 

"  Pardon  me,  Mr.  Herbert!"  said  the  Englishman  coldly,  "  I 
allow  no  such  insinuations— there  is  but  one  wouun  in  the 
world  on  whom  my  eyes  rest  with  pleasure.  I  repeat,  this 
young  girl  is  handsome — well  for  hei,  perhaps,  if  she  were  not 
—she  is  the  more  likely  to  attract  the  eyes  of  tho  libertine. 
Mrs.  Walters  cannot  advise  hei-— cannot  ask  her  to  go  home 
again  with  her  fortune  untried,  yet  she  shrinks  from  the  re- 
sponsibility of  leaving  her  behind." 

Herbert's  face  was  too  expressive  to  answer  tlie  purpose  of 
dissimulation.  He  tried  hard  to  laok  bold  and  unconcerned, 
but  it  would  not  da  He  spoke,  however,  what  he  eould  not 
look. 

"  In  what  way  does  this  concern  me,  Captain  Walters  V 
"  You  know  that  yourself,  Mr.  Herbert !  so  do  I."  Herbert, 
changed ■  color  and  bit  his  lip.  "Suffice  it  to. say,  we  midor-- 
stand  each  other  on  that  head,  although  I,  for  my  part,  cannot 
understand  why  a  young  man  i>osse8sed  of  yoax  adsantage.^ 
does  not  fly  higher." 

"  I  was  'lot  aware,"  said  Herbert,  with  an  incredulous  smile, 
"  that  Captain  Walters  entertained  so  high  an  opinion  of  me." 


THR   IRISH   GIRL   IN    AMERICA. 


US 


'  How  high  or  how  low  Is  not 


now  the  question,  Mr.  Her- 
bert ;  my  tlnio  is  very  limited,  and  you  will  j.ardon  rae  if  I 
speak  more  plainly  than  you  may  relish.  What  are  your  in- 
tentions with  regard  to  Bessy  Conway  1" 

"Well,  upon  my  honor!  Captain  Walters,  it  is  a  singular 
question  from  you  to  mo !  Suppose  I  decline  answerin-  such 
a  question  V 

"  In  that  case,"  said  Captain  Waltei-s,  "  I  should  feel  myself 
under  the  necessity  of  informing  your  father,  Wilson  Herbert, 

of  Ardflnnan,  Ireland,  late  of  Birmingham,  England " 

"Really!"  interrupted  Herbert  in  a  sarcastic  tone,      you 

know  my  father  better  than " 

"  Better  than  you  do,"  said  the  Captain  significantly.    "  Had 
I  time,  and  did  it  suit  my  purpose,  I  could  fell  you  things 
about  your  father  which,  if  generally  known,  would  unsettle 
h,s  tenure  of  that  Tipperary  estate  of  his.     I  confess  myself  an 
interested  party,  and  one  day  or  another  when  I  have  nothing 
bettor  to  do  I  may  examine  his  title-deeds  by  the  h^ht  of  cer"- 
tain  documents  which  are  registered  and  in  safe  keeping  in 
England.    I  see  you  understand  me.    Well !  what  remains' for 
me  to  say  is  this:  if  you  have  one  particle  of  feeling  for  vour 
father— for  your  mother— and  desire  to  keep  off  disgrace  aa 
long  as  possible  from  your  family,  you  will  let  Bessy  Conway, 
alone,  for  I  tell  you  the  day  that  I  hear  of  your  renewing  your 
attempts  to  seduce  her  from  the  path  of  virtue— that  very 
day  will  seal  your  father's  doom,  and  draw  down  upon  him 
the  punishment  he  well  deserves.    I  hope  you  now  understand 
how  this  matter  concerns  your  he  added  ironically. 

Herbert  rose  from  hi??  seat  pale  as  death,  his  lips  trembling 
with  the  passion  which  he  dared  not  express  in  words.  He 
looked  fiercely  at  Captain  Walters  and  the  fingers  of  his  ri-ht 
hand  clutched  at  empty  space  and  then  closed  as  if  conv"ul. 
Bively.  He  rested  that  hand  on  the  back  of  he  chair  from 
which  he  had  risen,  and  looked  the  captain  steadily  in  th<^ 
face.    All  this  beine  done,  he  answ*.r«>/i  w^rw  oir><»iv 


144 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"  Yefl,  I  understand— you  mean  to  say  that  we  are  all  in 
your  power  I" 

"  That  is  precisely  what  I  raean." 

"Oh!  very  well,  Captain  Walters!— It  is  rather  hard,  but  1 
suppose  it  can't  be  helped." 

"  I'ardon  me — it  can  be  helped— and  by  you,"  Bald  the 
Captai  1  with  emphasis.  "  I  have  told  you  how.  Observe  tho 
conditions,  and  you  shall  (  ot  find  me  a  hard  task-master.  You 
Will  remember — will  you  uoti" 

"  I  shall  not  forget,"  Herbert  replied  with  a  strango  smile, 
and  he  moved  towards  the  door, — having  reached  it  ho  turned 
and  spoke  again : 

"  Have  the  goodness  to  tell  Mrs.  "Walters,"  said  ho,  "  that  I 
have  not  forgotten  what  she  told  ma  when  I  saw  ho  last — I 
have  battled  bravely  with  temptation  for  so  far,  unaided  and 
alone— God  knows  how  long  I  may  be  able  to  resist,  for  the 
world  is  trying  me  sorely.  Captain  Walters !  I  have  given  ycni 
no  promise — remember  that!— I  wish  you,  sir,  f,'ood  night!" 
he  bowed  with  cold  and  haughty  politeness,  and  then  let  him- 
self out  as  if  fearful  of  hearing  more. 

"Upon  my  word  and  honor !"  *aid  the  Captain  to  himself, 
as  he  stood  a  moment  looking  after  him,  "  upon  my  word  and 
•honor!  there  is  no  accounting  for  tastes — now  can  such  a 
young  fellow  as  that,  think  seriously  of  little  Bessy  1" 

If  Captain  Walters  had  seen  the  look  of  anguish  on  Her- 
bert's face  when  he  took  Bessy's  hand  for  a  moment  at  tho 
door  he  need  not  have  asj  .od  the  question. 

"  Farewell,  Bessy !  farewell !"  said  he,  and  he  squeezed  her 
hand  very  hard,  while  she  looked  up  in  his  face  with  astonish- 
ment depicted  on  every  feature ;  "  they  will  drive  me  to  ruin," 
said  the  young  man  in  a  hoarse  whisper,  "  they  will  break  the 
one  link  that  binds  me  still  to  virtue — thai  is  you ! — Bessy  ! 
Bessy !  my  brain  is  burning  and  my  heart  i^  breaking — would 
that  I  were  dead !" 

"Master  Henry  dear!  what  ails  you  at  alii"  said  Bessy 


THE   IRISH   OIRL   IK   AMERICA. 


145 


".Are  you  sick,  oi 


anxiously,  and  tho  tears  stood  in  her  eyes, 
what's  tho  matter  with  you  1" 

"No,  no,  I'm  weli  enouRh-too  well!-Ood  bless  you!-/ 
would  bless  you,  but  my  blessing  might  prove  a  curse  l-fare- 
well  I  farewell !" 

Raising  the  hand  which  he  still  hold  he  pressed  it  for  a  mo- 
luent  to  his  throbbing  brow,  then  dashing  it  from  him,  he 
pulled  the  door  open  and  darted  out.  Ho  was  speedily  lost  to 
Be.ssy  8  view  in  the  shadow  flung  by  the  tall  old  trees  over  tho 
moonhght  street  without. 


146 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XI. 


The  day  of  parting  came  at  last,  and  Bessy  was  permitted 
as  a  special  favor  to  go  in  the  carriage  with  the  Ilibbard  fam- 
ily to  see  Mrs.  Walters  on  board  the  Oarriclc.  Many  friends 
were  there,  and  many  kind  wishes  were  exchanged,  and  peo- 
ple were  coming  and  going  to  the  very  last.  The  Ilibbards 
were  amongst  the  last  to  leave  the  vessel,  and  Bessy  Conway 
lingered  behind  whilst  her  mistress  spoke  with  the  Captain 
and  his  officers.  Mrs.  Walters  had  kindly  promised  to  go  and 
see  Denis  Conway  and  his  wife  as  soon  as  she  returned  to 
Carrick,  where  she  meant  to  spend  part  of  the  following  sum- 
mer, and  Bessy  stood  drowned  in  tears,  with  Mrs.  Walters'  two 
hands  clasped  between  her  own  whilst  she  poured  out  the  sor- 
row, and  the  love,  and  the  gratitude  that  filled  her  heart. 
Suddenly  another  voice  spoke  behind  her,  it  was  that  of 
llenry  Herbert : 

"  Mrs.  Walters,"  said  he,  '•  you  will  excuse  mo,  I  hope,  for 
intruding  myself  upon  you  at  a  moment  sacred  to  friendship 
and  to^  grief.  I  could  not  allow  you  to  depart  without  assur- 
ing you  once  again  that  I  am  deeply  grateful  for  the  generous 
interest  you  have  been  pleased  ♦lo  take  in  a  forlorn  cast-away 
like  myself.  I  make  no  professions — people  would  not  believe 
me  if  I  did — at  least  it  seetas  so — but  oh !  believe  me,  I  am 
the  creature  of  circumstances.  My  whole  life  has  been  unfa- 
vorable to  the  growth  of  virtue — no  genial  sunshine,  no  soft- 
ening dew  has  fpMen  on  my  heart  to  fructify  the  germ  of  good 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA. 


147 


that  nature,  or  nature's  God  implanted  in  it— this  you  cannot 
understand,  and  Oiere  is  no  time  now  for  explanations-per- 
mit mo  once  mora  to  thank  you  most  sincerely,  and  to  wisli 
you  a  safe  and  pleasant  voyage.  If  we  never  meet  again  I 
shall  remember  you  as  one  who  spoke  kindly  and  encourag- 
ingly to  the  poor  outcast " 

Bessy  had  retreated  to  a  corner,  and  her  sobs  went  to  Mrs. 
Walters'  heart.  Herbert  turned  quickly  and  fixed  his  eyes 
upon  her  with  a  sorrowful  expression. 

"  Ay!  she  may  weep,"  he  said  to  Mrs.  Walters,  "she  loves 
you  and  you  were  kind  to  her.  She  will  find  few  to  treat  her 
us  you  did— to  appreciate  her  as  you  did.  1  know  her  ralue, 
and  I  would  cherish  her  as  a  tender  flower,  but  she  will  not 
have  it  so— she  flies  mo  as  though  I  were  serpent,— and 
others  view  me  through  a  still  darker  medium  !  Mrs.  Walters  ! 
I  do  not  complain,  but  I  must  say  that  some  whom  you  know 
liavo  not  used  me  well- but  no  matter  now— a  time  may  come,— 
if  they  only  left  me,  Bessy,  I  could  bear  all,  and  the  world 
might  bo  the  gainer— now  I  am  like  a  boat  sent  adrift  on  a 
stormy  ocean  without  pilot  or  rudder— farewell !" 

"Farewell,  Mr.  Herbert!"  said  Mrs.  Walters  with  deep 
feeling;  "farewell!  and  may  God  give  you  strength  to  resist 
temptation,  and  follow  the  instincts  of  your  better  nature  I— 
there— shako  hands  with  Bessy  now— and  go  quickly— you 
have  but  a  moment !" 

Bessy  came  forward  with  downcast  eyes,  and  Herbert 
taking  her  hand  looked  a  moment  on  her  drooping  tearful 
face,  then  sighed  heavily,  and  dropping  the  hand  ho  hold 
left  the  cabin  withou  a  word.  Mrs.  Walters  looked  at 
Bessy— the  color  had  left  her  cheek  and  she  was  trembling 
with  suppressed  emotion. 

"Bessy!  Bessy!  take  care!"  said  the  lady  in  a  kind  and 
soothing  tone,  "  I  know  and  feel  that  your  trial  is  a  hard  one— 
but  you  must  persevere— all  that  your  friends  can  do  will  not 
save  vou,  unless  you  act  firmly  and— keep  him  ,<it  a  dist^ince » 


# 


148 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;    OR, 


Let  no  promises,  no  persuasions  induce  you  to  listen  to  him— 
were  his  intentions  all  that  he  says,  you  would  bo  none  the  hap- 
pier for  being  his  wife,  knowing  the  light  in  which  his  family 
would  regard  yru.  Remember  what  I  tell  you,  Bessy,  and  you 
will  never  be  sorry  for  taking  my  advice.  You  must  hurry  away 
now,  for  I  hear  the  Captain  calling  to  mo  that  Mrs.  Hibbard  is 
going.  Good-bye,  Bessy!  good-bye!  I  expect  you  to  write 
to  me  very  soon  and  I  will  answer  your  letter.  .  God  bless  yon, 
my  dear  girl !  and  may  His  mighty  arm  protect  you  from  all 
danger !" 

Bessy's  heart  was  too  full  for  words,  but  she  pressed  Mrs. 
Walters'  hand  again  and  again,  and  raised  her  eyes  to  heaven 
invoking  a  blesaing  on  her  head,  then  silently  followed  Mrs. 
Hibbard  to  the  deck,  and  had  barely  time  to  say  "  good-bye" 
to  the  Captain  when  her  mistress  left  the  vessel,  and  they 
joined  the  crowd  on  shoro  who  were  waiting  to  see  the  Gar- 
rick  sail.    When  the  final  moment  came  and  the  stately  ship 
elbowed  her  way  out  through  the  throng  of  merchant  craft 
representing  almost  every  nation  of  the  earth,  Bessy  felt  as  if 
iihe  were  alone  in  the  world  and  the  half-forgotten  sorrow  of  a 
former  parting  was  renewed  in  her  mind.    Small  comfort  did 
she  find  in  the  shining  gold  piece  which  Mrs.  Walters  had 
slipped  into  her  hand  at  parting.  "  It  will  do  for  a  keepsake," 
was  her  sorrowful  thought  as  she  looked  at  Its  jaunty  liberty. 
cap  and  its  emblematic  stars,  then  kissed  it  and  laid  it  care- 
fully  away  in  the  tiny  silk  purse  which  the  fair  hands  of  Mrs. 
Walters  had  fabricated  expressly  for  her  use. 

Mrs.  Hibbard  did  her  best  to  console  Bessy,  and  to  replace 
the  kind  mistress  she  had  lost.  But  somehow  she  never  got  so 
far  into  Bessy's  heart  as  her  kindness  would  seem  to  warrant. 
She  M'as  a  very  good  woman  as  the  world  goes,  and  meant  well 
at  all  times,  but  there  -  is  a  want  of  steadiness  in  her  disposition 
that  amounted  at  times  to  caprice,  and  there  was  also  a  ]istle3,s 
indifference  to  the  affairs  of  others  that  looked  very  like  selfish- 
ness, if  anything  else  it  could  bo  called.    Consequently  she 


THR    IRISH    GIRI,   IN    AMKRICA. 


149 


could  never  be  to  Bessy  what  Mrs.  Walters  had  been,  and  tliat 
the  poor  girl  soon  found  out  with  a  sinldng  heart.  Still  Mrs. 
Hibbard  was  strongly  impressed  with  a  sense  of  justice  and 
desired,  moreover,  to  make  friends  of  her  domestics  if  she  only 
knew  how  to  set  properly  about  it.  She  knew  very  well  when 
she  was  well  served,  and  endeavored  to  encourage  by  every 
means  in  her  power  those  whoin  she  found  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  duty.  To  Bessy,  therefore,  she  was  uniformly 
kind,  and  made  it  a  practice  to  hold  her  up  as  an  example  to 
others,  a  favor  with  which  Bessy  could  well  have  dispensed, 
for  she  knew  that  it  vexed  and  annoyed  her  fellow-servants 
without  at  all  benefiting  her. 

Bridget  had  no  patience  with  her  mistress  for  what  she  con- 
sidered this  unjust  partiality,  and  she  never  took  any  pains  to 
conceal  her  discontent.     She  contrived  to  make  the  kitchen  so 
uncomfortable  to  Bes^y  that  she  spent  no  more  time  in  it  thau 
was  actually  necessary.     Still  she  did  not  complain  to  Mrs. 
Ilibbard,  fearing  a  violent  concussion  which  Avould  eud  in 
Bridget's  expulsion.     But  old  Wash  was  not  so  forbearing— ho 
thought  he  had  borne  too  long,  and  so  he  made  it  his  business 
to  lodge  a  formal  complaint  against  Bridget,  telling  bis  mis- 
tress  that  he  could  live  no  longer  in  the  same  house  with  her. 
After  breakfast  next  morning  Bridget  was  sent  for  to  the 
sitting-room,  and  Mrs.  Hibbard  asked  her  how  it  happened 
that  she  made  the  place  so  disagreeable  to  her  fellow-servants. 
This  reused  Bridget's  ire,  and  instead  of  giving  any  satisfactory 
ansAver,  she  launched  out  into  a  violent  tirade  against  the 
house  and  every  one  in  it,  man,  woman  and  child.     Mrs  Hib- 
bard tried  in  vain  to  stop  her,  saying  that  there  was  no  need 
for  loud  talk  or  angry  words,  but  she  might  as  well  have  tried 
to  stop  the  rushing  avalanche  of  the  Alps  or  Apennines  in  its 
downward  course.     Everything  was  said  by  Bridget  that  could 
possibly  annoy  her  mistress,  and  she  wound  up  by  telling  her 
that  she  didn't  know  a  good  girl  from  a  bad  one. 
"  An-y  bog- trotter  that  conies  the  way  wlii  suit  you  as  well 


160 


BESSY    CONWAY  ]    OR, 


I 


BS  a  girl  that  knows  her  business.  I  an't  used  to  that,  Mrji. 
Hibbard,  and  I  tell  you  I  shan't  stand  it  any  longer,  i'm  no 
greenhorn,  Mrs.  Hibbard!  nor  I'm  no  stranger  in  New  York, 
thanks  bo  to  God— I  have  had  good  places,  Mrs.  Hibbard  ! 
not  all  as  one,  and  I  know  what  good  places  are,  and  I  ant 
a-going  to  be  walked  over  by  any  one— I'll  leave  to-morrow, 
Mrs.  Hibbard!— there!" 

"Then  we  are  both  of  one  mind,  Bridget!"  said  Mis.  Hib- 
bard quietly  and  coldly;  "that  is  just  what  I  wanted  to  toll 
you.  There  are  two  weeks  past  of  tho  present  month,  for 
which  time  I  will  pay  you  when  you  are  ready  to  leave." 

"  Well !  Mrs.  Hibbard,  it's  very  hard"— began  Bridget  in  an 
altered  tone— she  had  had  no  idea  that  her  mistress  would 
take  her  at  her  word. 

"  I  have  nothing  more  to  say  to  you,  Bxidget,"  said  Mrs. 
Hibbard  walking  away ;  "  you  leave  to-morrow  forenoon." 

So  it  was  that  Bridget  lost  a  place  which  she  knew  in  her 
heart  was  a«  good  as  any  in  New  York.  She  blustered  a  groat 
deal  in  the  kitchen,  and  boasted  over  and  over  that  she  didn't 
care  a  snap  for  Mrs.  Hibbard  or  any  one  else,  "  only  in  fair 
play;"  she  abused  Bessy  and  old  Wa.sh  till,  as  Bessy  said,  "  a 
dog  wouldn't  lick  their  blood,"  but  neither  of  them  made  her 
an  answer,  and,  indeed,  they  kept  out  of  her  way  as  much  as 
possible,  so  the  day  passed  over  without  any  more  serious 
catastrophe  than  the  breaking  of  a  kitchen  bowl  which 
Bridget  flung  out  of  her  hand  in  one  of  her  "  tantrums." 

Next  morning  she  left  the  house,  refusing  the  half  muiitli's 
wages  which  was  her  due,  and  threatening  to  make  Mrs.  Hib- 
bard pay  her  month  in  full,  as  she  turned  her  away  without 
any  reason  at  all  but  just  to  please  that  spiteful  old  ni^5,Tc.r, 
and  that  nasty  little  piece  of  consequence,  Lessy  Coiuvav. 
Ellen  was  favored  with  a  good-bye,  together  with  a  parting 
admonition  to  take  care  of  herself,  Ibr  her  turn  would  come 
next. 

"  Smooth  water  runs  deep,  Ellen,"  said  Bridget  with  ar.  em- 


TUB    IRISH   Ginr,    IN    AMKKICA. 


151 


phatic  shako  of  the  head;  "yon  see  thov  never  stopped  till 
they  got  me  out,  and  they'll  servo  yoii  thr,  same  trick  depend 
upon  It.     I'd  advise  you  to  get  pious,  and  thump  vour  craw 
and  turn  up  tho  whites  of  your  eyes  now  and  then  li'ke  a  duck 
m  thunder-when  you  think  folks  are  looking  at  you.    That's 
the  way  to  get  along,  and-do  you  hear,  Ellen!"  .she  added 
mih  a  nmchievou.  glance  at  Bessy,  "  if  you  only  do  that  vou 
needr.  t  bo  partic'lar  as  to  what  you  do  behind-back.s-voteens 
can  take  a  longer  tether  to  themselves  than  they're  willing  to 
give  to  others."  " 

Ellen  put  this  broad  hint  off  with  a  laugh,  but  Bessy  looked 
very  grave,  and  felt  strongly  tempted  to  make  a  severe  relort 
on  Lndget.  A  moment's  thought,  however,  served  to  show 
her  how  worse  than  useless  this  would  be,  and  she  allowed 
Bndget  to  depart  without  any  allusion  to  what  had  been 
said. 

Mrs  Hibbard  had  advertised  for  a  cook  tho  evening  before 
and  of  8,x  or  eight  ..vho  presented  themselves  in  tho  m(,rnin.' 
she  engaged  a  tall,  thin,  and  rather  delicate  lookincr  youne 
woman  named  Panr.y  Powers.  Mrs.  Hibbard  was  almost  afraid 
to  take  her,  fearing  that  her  strength  might  not  bo  equal  to 
what  she  undertook,  but  Fanny  appeared  so  confident,  and 
looked  so  tidy  and  so  amiable,  moreover,  that  there  was  vo 
possibility  of  doubting  her  capacity  or  her  willingness.  She 
was.  therefore,  inaugurated  as  cook  and  laundress,  and  her 
feUow-servants  were  all  prepossessed  by  her  appearance 

Indeed,  nothing  could  exceed  the  order  and  neatness  with 
wlucu  Fanny  went  through  hor  work,  anrl.  of  course,  the  com- 
fort  of  the  family  was  wonderfully  increased.  Her  mil,]no^« 
and  good  sense  were  equally  remarkable  in  her  intercour.o 
with  her  fellow-servante,  so  that,  in  all  respects,  she  seemed  a 
most  valuable  acquisition  to  tho  household 

Bessy  Conway,  in  particular,  regarded  the  ne-v-comer  with 
admiration,  and  esteemed  herself  fortunate  in  obtaiPT^r  such 
a  companion,  for  she  found  that  Fanny  .van  oxtr.mei^^lou^ 


'US. 


152 


BESSY   CONWAY;    OR, 


and  love,-  ,^oing  to  church  beyond  anything  else  in  the  whole 
world,  ohe  could  not  live,  she  said,  without  going  to  chur^-h 
regularly,  and  she  wouldn't  take  the  best  place  in  New  York 
where  she  couldn't  get  golr.;r  as  ofte»  as  she  wished. 

A  happy  girl  was  Bessy  when,  on  the  first  night  after  Fa-  ny'.- 
arrival,  the  two  knelt  ^ogethor  to  say  their  beads,  and  aUer  a 
little  persuasion,  and  some  gi-od-naturcd  laughit-,  Ellen  ,raB 
at  last  persuaded  to  join  them. 
'^'^'  Surely  we're  all  right  now,"  .aid  Bes^v  to  herself  as  she 
laid  her  head  on  the  pillow  tl>  .i  aight.  (/ndoubted^y  things 
looked  bright,  but  Bessy  had  yet  to  learn  the  trutL.  of  the-.-  oM 
saying :  "  All  is  not  gold  that  glitteni." 

■Things  had  frone  on  i'ery  smoothly  and  fairly  for  about  a 
week,  ai.dev,   v  v-na  was  happy  in  t'ne  restored  peace  of  the 
mansion.     Old  W'i'u)   q<mt  m<,io  of  his  time  in  the  kitchen 
than  he  had  dono  for  juany  a  month,  and  it  was  a  pleasure  to 
sea  Lim  cs  he  eaf.  c  f  m  even'ng  by  the  brightly-polished  range 
looking  alternately,  with  a  broad  grin  of  satisfaction    at  the 
clear  fire  and  the  shining  tea-kettle  on  top,  and  the  s<^date 
countenance  of  the  new  cook  as  she  sat  at  the  table   !.ard 
by  making   a  dress  for   herself.     The   old   man  thought  he 
had  never  felt  so  comfortable,  and  so  he  told  Fanny  who  of 
course,  took  all  the  merit  to  herself,  and  thanked  AVasIi  for  his 
good  opinion. 

It  was  a  real  pleasure  for  Bessy,  too,  to  bring  down  her 
w  )rk  to  the  kitchen,  in  the  evening  after  tea,  or  perhaps  read 
some  pious  or  entertaining  book  while  Fanny  worked.    And 
the  old  nigger  pricked  up  his  ears  and  listened-he  had  never 
heard  Catholic  books  read  before  and  he  seemed  to  think 
them  tKe  strangest  reading  that  ever  was.     As  a  general  thinrr 
be  oat  listening  in  silence,  mouth  and  eyes  open,  to  catch  the 
iFords  whose  meaning  was  so  mystical  to  him.     Now  and  then 
however,  he  would  break  out  in  exclamations  of  surprise,  and 
his  running  comment  on  what  reached  his  ear  was  amusincr  to 
the  girls,  though  at  times  they  had  to  call  him  to  account 


THE    IRISH    GIRL   IN    AilKRICA.  Jgg 

Ibat  there  was  mud  to  b»  Jv  "'°  """''l  could  suppo,a 
-n  thatwould  d^eo  or  he  rlTw":"'  "?  ''?°"'  ^^^ 
where  a„  «s  peace  and  comedt         '  °"''  ""'"  "°'""° 

Eight  or  nine  days  after  Pannv»-nr«n,  tu 

^n  .e  wee.  r^r^dTc-  rxvr"  °^ " 
o/:iTrrd'r :  z;h^:rr  r  r-' '°  -- 

clergyman.  preacnea   by  tlie  same  eminent 

lackjlo  bJablf  rh"  "''  ""''''  ""^^^""^'  "  ^-  --  very 
cKy  to  be  able  to  hear  so  many  fine  sermons." 

There  wasn't  "  a  wav"  on  /J/»y  «^„    • 

w.rrprt:rr  ."tit^r  ^  '""^ '""'  ="--  '-^ 

would  break.  ^  *  '""^  °'7'"«  "  "  ■>«  heart^ 

Zn/r^iT  f"""''  ^^-^ '  '''""'»  *«  >"»"»'■  with  you  ," 

Pi':::,;   "  °°™" "  '-"•  '"^  --'  °"  -""^"rmos. 

"Lord  bless  me  !"  said  Bessy  agaia  in  great  alarm,  "  whaf. 
come  over  you  at  a^  p.„„y  ,_<„,  y„„  „,^^  ^^  ■     ^  «' 

_^  Biiirh";;. '  '"^"•' ■■-■""'^  ^->/.  ■■  but-huLbu  J_.. 

"  I-i-can't-can't^get  out  this  evening " 


154 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"  Well !  what  of  that  V 

"  Wliy  I  shan't  hear— hear  Father  P- 


-'s — sormon !" 


With  all  Bessy's  good-nature  she  could  not  help  laughing. 

"  Why,  then,  Fanny,  is  that  all  that  ails  you  V 

"I  guess  it's  about  enough,"  replied  Fanny  very  sharply ; 
"  I  don't  see  what  you've  got  to  laugh  at,  really !" 

"  Well !  after  that"— and  Bessy  held  up  her  hands  in  utter 
amazement—"  after  that  I'm  sure  I'll  not  wonder  at  a-^y thing." 

"You  won't,  oh?— dear  mo!"  ejaculated  Fanny  rather  dis- 
dainfully, as  Bessy  thought,  for  such  a  pious  person. 

In  the  meantime  Fanny  had  dried  up  her  tears,  and  Bessy 
went  on  :  "  Well !  do  you  know,  Fanny,  I'm  surprised  at  you— 
indeed  I  am— to  let  your  mind  be  disturbed  at  such  a  trifle  as 
that." 

"  Trifle,  indeed !  it  ain't  a  trifle,  I  tell  you,  to  be  disappointed 
like  that!" 

"I  wish  you  may  never  have  more  cause  to  cry!"  said 
Bessy;  "if  you  don't  you'll  come  off  safe  enough!" 

"Now  will  you  just  keep  your  chat  to  yourself  1"  said 
Fanny,  with  increasing  ill-humor;  "  I  an't  in  a  state  of  mind 
to  bear  much  at  the  present  time,  I  can  tell  you!" 

"Why,  Fanny!   Fanny!  where's   your  patience   gone   to? 

Sure  I  often  heard  you  say  that  it  was  a  fine  thing  for  people 

to  have  trials  and  troubles  in  this  world,  for  that  every  one 

would  be  a  crown  to  them  in  heaven  ;— it  seems  you  don't  want 

W  to  make  a  crown  of  this  trial,  anyhow." 

But  Fanny  was  quite  too  angry  to  listen  to  reason.  "  Well ! 
it  an't  any  use  talking,"  she  exclaimed  petulantly,  "  if  I'm 
vexed  it  an't  without  good  reason.  I  guess  St.  Peter  himself 
couldn't  bear  it  patiently !" 

"AVell!  I  think  he  could,"  said  Bessy  with  a  smile,  "and 
I'm  sure  of  it,  too,  for  I  couldn't  bear  what  St.  Peter  bore,  I'm 
afraid,  and  I  could  bear  this  disappointment  of  yours  as  easy 
as  could  be." 

"  That  may  be,"  retorted  Fanny,  rrith  a  look  so  cynical  and 


*  cynical  and 


THE    IRISH   GIRI.    IN'    AMERICA.  ]55 

sour  (hat  Bessy  could  hardly  beliovo  hor  eyes  •  "  some  ^n't  „, 
anxious  to  hoar  sermons  as  others  "  '  '  "^ 

word  for  it."  ^^  '''  ^'^'^^  '"X 

BcirmMr  Ci.",:.:' "■' ';  7^"''  "'"■  ■»'•  ->■'-••■  ■-" 

chnrch."      '^'  "  '  '""  '""''  *"'  '■•"'•™  k'^l't  in  from 

••  bu't  rm'l7  "  "■  °""^ '"  "J"'""''  ^"""y.  """I-  .oftoned 
but  I  m  real  angry  ivitli  Mrs,  Hibbard." 

"  Well !  I  don't  Eoe  why  you  should      T«  it   i 
»™..  supper  for  three  orVur  of  her  friend  ?/,:"",  t° 
a  nsht  to  aet  what  she  wants  .„  her  own  ^Z^H    """  '  "" 

warr°"'h7ItWhe''T''','  "-'f"'*  "^""^  ""-  — " 
"."iiitii,      out  Its  the  least  a  2  rl  that'^  tun^T,;^    i-i 

I'  And  Jose  your  place  to-morrow  morning  V 

..../wr»re  ?e::;j  rir-T  -  -  --  -  - 

:;rerhX;°-«'"'-----™-^^^^^^^^ 

"  Well !  I  don't  know  how  it  m«v  h^  ,wth  7/ov  '•    •  •  •    , 

"-'    ~"  ^'^'^^  yo^^,     saia  Khe, 


156 


BKSSY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"  but  for  my  part,  I  think  I  can  save  my  soul  hero  as  well  as 
ff  I  was  in  a  nunnery ;— and  do  you  know  what,  Fanny ! 
maybo  yon'ro  doing  r>  •  ■  -otir  soul  among  tlu)  pot.s  and 
Haucepans  to-niglit  ;  .  were  sitting  in  a  pow  ia  St. 
Mary's  Church  listonitiii  to  i;uihor  P ." 

"  How  so,  pra  y  ?" 

"  Why,  becavisp  you'd  be  doinp  your  own  will  if  you  went  to 
Church,  but  it'.s  God's  will  for  you  to  stay  at  your  work,  when 
the  mistress  wants  you." 

"Well,  upon  ?«?/ word !"  ejaculaiod  Fanny  in  high  diddain, 
"  things  are  come  to  a  pretty  pass  with  us  when  a  bit  cf  a 
greenhorn  undertakes  to  lecture  us  like  that !" 

"I  1'.  pc  you'll  not  take  it  ill  of  mo,"  said  Bessy  mildly; 
"oven  if  I  am  a  greenhorn,  as  you  say,  that  doesn't  prevent 
me  (vf^m  knowing  how  to  save  my  soul.  There's  as  good  Chris- 
tians where  I  came  from,  thanks  be  to  Qod,  as  there  is  any- 
where else." 

"  Good  gracious  !"  cried  Fanny,  glancing  at  the  clock, 
"  there  its  seven  o'clock,  and  I  han't  got  a  thing  done,  not 
even  my  tea-dishes  washed !" 

"  Well !  if  you'll  go  on  with  your  cooking,"  said  Bessy,  "  I'll 
wash  the  disht  ••  for  you." 

This  welcome  proposal  restored  Fann:  's  good  humor,  at 
least  to  a  certain  extent,  and  although  she  kept  siijhing  at  in- 
tervals all  the  evening  as  she  thought  of  Fathei     '  'g 

sermon,  she  said  no  more  a': out  it,  for  Wasl)  came  in  .  oon 
after,  and  Bessy  took  care  to  keep  otlu  --  subjects  afloat,  so  that 
the  evening  passed  ly  wif\out  an^  further  rllu-sion  to  the 
e.xciting  topic  of  Fan.iy's  disappointment. 

But  the  girls  were  never  on  th('  same  terms  after  that  even- 
ing. The  bond  of  sy^  pathy  was  bro:  ?n  bctwee;,  them,  and 
their  mutual  confidence  was  much  diminished  if  not  entirely 
destroyed.  Bossy's  faith  in  Fanny  haf'  received  a  severe 
shock,  and  the  subdued  mildness,  or  rutlier  ca!  uiess  of  her 
exterior  no  longer  impressed  her  *.      ,  h      done.    She  hni  dis- 


THE    IRISH   GIRL    IN'   AMKRICA. 


157 


V„,i  ,.r,,i  1    ..  '•>  "'^^   Dehintl  the  bar   with 

Ned  and  bo  h  seemed  as  though  their  hearts  were  ovcrflo^^n^ 
with  content  and  thev  rpv«i);,.„   •     .u  ^"»*.nio«mg 

favors.     They  we  0  bofh  n    d  r"   V       ''"''   "'  '^'•^""^'^ 

"  How  is  that,  Mrs.  Finigan  7" 

olelf!"'  "•"  '^f  '""'''  to-n'sht.  you  know,  and  they  have 
elegant  music  and  everything  first-rate  " 

"  What's  the  club  V 

"  Why,  the  Smoking  Club  to  !>«  snrA     t  <v       i  ^ 
•'M  about  it.     They  mlet  ^JonLT^l '     "''^  '°'  ^'^^^ 

"'  -a1'  ee,",'  r'''  ''"I"  '  *'  '^  ^^"^  '^'^'^  ^"  '"^-^e'l  Bessy. 

ail      Didn  fc  I  tell  you  you  were  just,  m  for  a  dau-  o  and  it. 
V    at  you  '      stion  me  like  a  lawyer." 

"Why,  .  me!  Aliy,  do  you  think  I'd  go  in  amon,r  o 

room  full  Of  peop.   that's  all  strangers  to  me.  a'nd  steplt'on 
the  iloor  before  them  all  1    Sure  enou-h  I'd  l.«  fV.n  i  ? 
when  I'd  do  that!"  "'^^nouj,  I  d  be  tond  oi  a  dance 

'•  Don't  be  botb.rin'  me  no^  .  ith  your  airs  I"  and  Alh  .e 
hora  push  in  sportive  mood.  ''Won't  Ned  go  an  with  you 
umself  and  it.  glad  enough  tl  ^  boys  will  be 'to  ge    such  a 

^vouldn  t  miss  the  lun  for  anything  !    Come  here,  Ned  -" 
iNcd  canio  accordintrlv  HTi/1  m;r.o<^i  i.t., .         '    . ..  , 

■=■  "    J" ■-    -  -  i^cisuuiSlOIi.    10  Aiiy*8, 


** 


m ..% 


158 


nKSSY    CONWAY  j     Oil 


but  BfiBsy  was  proof  n}>airiNt  Hhmu  till.  Tlicy  u<«rn  forced  to 
louvo  her  to  go  to  their  Inwincss,  and  Ned  especiiilly  was  very 
angry,  knowing  what  a  stir  her  i)rotty  modeMt  fuco  would 
make  in  the  club-room. 

"  You  may  go  to  the  mischief,  then  !"  he  hum!  tohtily  as  ho  hur- 
ried back  to  the  bar;  "if  Herbert  was  there,  she'd  go  in  a 
minute,"  he  added  in  ,i  undrr  tone,  "  but  her  own  aiipials 
aren't  good  enough  for  her  ladyship  since  she  has  a  aquirocn 
running  after  her !" 

Vexed  as  Ally  was,  she  gave  Bossy  a  scat  near  where  she 
wasstandiir.  "But  maybe  you'd  rather  go  up  stairs,"  said 
she  in  an  ironical  tone,  "  my  mother  is  above." 

Bessy  was  rather  amused,  however,  by  the  view  which  she 
had  of  the  club-room  through  the  open  door,  and  she  said  she 
would  wait  a  little  where  hlie  was  before  she  went  up  to  sec 
Mrs.  Murphy.  It  was,  indeed,  a  scone  where  mirth  and  jollify 
abounded,  and  whero  the  ^lilarious  elasticity  of  the  Celtic 
nature  was  strikingly  manifested.  The  Smoking  Club  of  that 
day  is  now  with  the  past,  for  twenty  years  throws  many  a 
custom  off  the  stage  of  popular  favor  into  the  gulf  of  things 
obsolete. 

At  the  room-door  sat  an  odd-looking  /enius  with  the  drolh-st 
expression  of  countenance  and  that  ceaseless  flow  of  humor 
only  to  bo  found  amongst  those  of  his  class  and  country.  This 
individual  held  a  plato  on  v»hich  was  deposited,  by  each  one 
on  entering,  the  silver  key  which  obtained  him  admission,  in 
the  likeness  of  a  York  &3/illing.  Each  member,  it  seemed,  had 
the  privilege  of  bringing  a  partner,  and  the  pile  of  shillings  on 
the  plate  was  appropriated,  first  of  all  to  paying  the  musicians, 
the  remainder  to  be  spent  at  the  bar  in  refreshments  for  the 
company.  The  smoking-members  had  another  room  appro- 
priated to  themselves,  their  pipes  and  tobacco — segars  were 
held  in  sovereign  contempt,  and  by  common  consent  excluded 
the  club-room. 


TOE    IRISH   GIHL    IS   AMKHICA.  jr)9 

BosHy  onjoy,,,!  ll,o  fun  miKl.tily  for  «omo  timo.     Tl.o  whole 
icooo  was  fnniiliar,  and  us  sho  watchod  each 


"  T~7-,''.""'"'"ff  l"i'r  llwu  Him|.Iy  hoiikI.I  renown 
liy  holding  out  tu  tiro  c.u,l.  oil,,  r  dowi.." 

and  Iho  nwMiy  anti.s  of  tho  y,M.n«  inon  oud  th«  NunpciinK 
shynosH  c.f  tho  frirls,  as  thoy  «aily  footed  tho  noor  to  tho  tut.o  of 
Tho  Rocky  Road  to  Dublin,"  ..r  "Jackson's  Mornin«  Uninh  - 
or  80.10  othor  traditio.ial  favo.ito,  sho  could  uhuo.t  fomrt  the 
tJ.ouHands  of  miles  that  lay  hotwcon  h.r  and  "  tlio  bi«  hum" 
whoromanyalimoBho  trij.pod  it  on  tho  baro  earthen  floor. 
When  tho  recollection  of  where  sho  was  did  recur  to  her  mind 
a  «Jfih  nn.l  a  tear  were  Rivc-n  to  tho  li«ht«omo  heart  and  the 
homely  joys  of  that  Auid  Lan«  Sy„„  ,vhich  soen.ed  to  have 
fallen  a  score  of  yoara  back  into  the  past,  though  BesHy'« 
years  wore  but  a  score. 

It  Hoon  got  about  in  tho  room  that  "  old  Denis  Conway's 
daughter  froui  Ardlinnan"  was  somewhero  in  the  vicinity  and 
ono  a  tor  another,  full  half  a  do^en  "Tipperary  boys"  made 
tho.r  bow  and  sc.apo  before  her.  asking  tho  pleasure  of  her 
company  to  dance.    Bessy  was  fain  to  refuse  them  all,  but  no 

.«"  pla'sible  '""'""' '"  "''  ""'  '"  ''''''''  ^"'^  ^'^^  ^^--- 
She  was  just  thinking  of  going  up  stairs,  when  a  well  known 
vo..ce  speaking  to  Ned  at  tho  bar,  mado  her  t.un  <,uickly 
and  thoro  she  saw  Henry  Herbert,  his  faco  flushed  cither  with 
liquor  or  somo  strong  excitement.  He  had  just  come  in,  ac 
compan.ed  by  a  tall  showy  man,  whom  Bessy  recognized  with 
a  su,k,ng  heart  as  the  sanu,  who  had  so  Impudently  accosted 
her  that  well-remembered  night  in  Chatham  square. 

The  pair  of  friends  were  passing  on  to  the  smaller  rcom 

adjonnng  the  club-room,  and  Ned  Fini.an  looked  anxiously 

ouna  m  search  of  Bessy.    To  his  great  relief  no  Bes.syTla 


iii. 


160 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XII. 


BsssT  had  been  proposing  to  herself  for  some  time  to  go  to 
see  Mary  Murphy,  who  had  been  two  or  three  times  to  seo  her. 
On  the  Thursday  evening  after  her  visit  to  Ned  Finigan's,  she 
went  up  after  tea  to  Houston  street,  and  was  hicky  enough  to 
find  Mary  in,  though  dead  tired,  she  said,  after  being  ut  a 
dance  the  night  before.  She  was  very  glad  to  see  Bessy,  and 
80,  indeed,  was  Becky,  her  staid  and  sober  fellow-servant,  "a 
hardy  giri,"  as  they  say  in  Ireland,  hut  a  very  respectable 
servant,  upright  and  conscientious. 

Mary  was  nodding  and  yawning  over  a  towel  which  she  was 
supposed  to  be  hemming,  whilst  Becky  was  cleaning  her  silver, 
Bessy's  entrance  was  very  welcome  to  both,  for  Becky  had  no 
objection  to  a  bit  of  chat  once  in  a  while,  and  Mary  was  glad 
of  anything  that  would  keep  her  from  falling  asleep. 

"  Well !  I'm  real  glad  to  see  you,'*  said  Mary,  "  but,  la  me  ! 
what  a  figure  you  are !  I  wonder  you  an't  ashamed  to  come 
out  of  an  evening  in  a  calico  dress !" 

Bessy  smiled  and  looked  down  with  a  perfectly  satisfied  air 
at  the  neat  chintz  calico  which  looked  bright  and  clean  and 
very  p'retty  under  her  dark  shawl. 

"  Mary,  how  can  you  talk  like  that  1"  exclaimed  Becky  ; 
"  now  that's  about  the  prettiest  calico  I've  seen  in  a  long  time. 
It's  real  neat." 

"  Neat,  indeed !"  said  Mary  with  infinite  contempt,  "  it  might 
do  well  enough  for  the  morning  when  folks  are  at  their  work, 
but  ^ou  woultin'*"-  catch  tsts  ^qIuh  out  so  of  an  cYfiuin^  " 


THE    IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA. 


161 


I  guess  not,"  said  Becky  with  great  composure.  "  but  that 
an  t  any  rule  for  folks  that  liavo  more  sense.  I  guess  Bessy 
makes  a  better  use  of  her  money  than  putting  it  on  her  back 
in  silk  and  satin." 

"Do  you  hear  her  now?"  cried  Mary  thoroughly  roused 
from  her  drowsy  fit,  "she  talks  just  so  all  the  blessed  time- 
out I  needn't  blame  her— it's  only  natural." 

Mary  coughed  affectedly  and  glanced  meaningly  at  Bockv's 
remarkably  plain  face.  '  ^ 

"  For  shame,  Mary  dear  I  for  shame !"  whispered  Bessy  pur- 
posely  avoiding  the  direction  of  Mary's  wicked  eye 
But  Mary  only  laughed  and  sang  with  provoking  emphasis: 

•'Nobody  coming  to  marry  me. 
Nobody  coming  to  woo, 
Nobody  coming  to  marry  mo. 
Oh  dear  !  what  shall  i  do?" 

Bessy  was  ashamed  to  look  at  the  cook,  and  she  glanced 
reprovingly  at  Mary,  but  such  scenes  were  of  too  frequent 
occurrence  to  excite  much  feeling  on  either  part.  Becky 
rubbed  away  harder  than  ever  at  her  plate,  but  she  soon 
paused  to.ask  Bessy  how  she  liked  her  new  mistress-she  had 
heard  from  Mary  of  Mrs.  Walters'  departure  and  Bos.sy's  en- 
gagement with  Mrs.  Ilibbard. 

"I  like  her  very  well,"  said  Bessy,  "she  is  a  very  good 
mistress."  " 

"  How  often  does  she  let  you  out  ?"  put  in  Mary 
"  Tsvico  a  week  if  I  choose  to  go-that  is,  Sunday  and  any 
day  through  the  week  that's  most  convenient.  But  I  don't 
always  go  out  when  it's  my  turn.  Unless  when  I  have  some 
very  particular  reason  I  don't  care  for  going  out  in  tho  even- 
ings I'd  sooner  do  some  sewing  either  for  mvsolf  or  Mrs 
Hibburd." 

"Sewing  indeed!"  cried  Mary  with  her  disdainful  curl  of 
the  lip,  "Vd^  Hee  any  mistress  far  enough  before  Td  stay  in 
s-n.^  sevr'  for  her  when  it  was  my  turn  out!" 


!i!ii 
i;"i 

!iii 

=l::i; 


Hill 


162 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"No  one  would  ever  suspect  you  of  such  a  thing,"  said 
Becky  drily,  "bo  you  needn't  take  any  pains  to  let  us  know 
it.  I  guess  you'd  rather  be  dancing  jigs  down  to  your  brother- 
in-law's,  or  trotting  from  one  shin-dig  to  another  keeping  me 
out  of  my  bed  till  eleven  or  twelve  o'clock  waiting  for  you. 
There  an't  any  chance  of  your  sewing  much  evenings  when 
you  can  get  out." 

"  I  leave  that  to  you  and  the  likes  of  you,"  said  Mary  in  a 
saucy  yet  not  ill-natured  tone,  for  she  knew  that  Becky  meant 
what  she  said  for  her  good.  "  I  wouldn't  bo  seen  doing  what 
you're  doing  anyhow;  if  I  engaged  to  do  Mrs,  Graham's  work, 
I  didn't  engage  to  spend  my  evenings  at  it,  and  I  won't,,  either, 
I'm  determined," 

"  Bessy  !"  said  tho  cook,  "  do  girls  in  place  talk  and  act  so 
in  Ireland  1" 

"What  does  she  know  whether  they  do  or  not?"  put  in 
Mary ;  "  neither  she  nor  I  ever  lived  out  till  we  came  to 
America!" 

"  If  I  didn't,"  said  Bessy,  "  I  know  how  girls  acted  that  did 
live  out,  and  as  Becky  put  tho  question  to  me  I  must  tell  her 
tho  truth  :  a  servant  girl  in  Ireland  that  would  bo  seen  going 
on  as  some  of  them  do  hero  would  be  put  in  a  strait-jacket, 
and  taken  off  to  a  madhouse.  Indeed  she  would,  Becky !  and 
Mary  Icnows  that  as  well  as  I  do  if  she'd  only  say  so," 

Mary  shook  her  fist  at  Bessy  with  a  playful  air,  and  Becky 
asked  in  a  tone  of  great  interest :  "  They  don't  dress  up  a« 
they  do  here — do  they  1" 

"  Dress  up !  why  no,  they  dress  decently  and  plainly,  in  tho 
way  ttiat  they  think  is  becoming  to  their  station.  If  a  servant- 
girl  went  out  in  a  silk  dress,  with  feathers  oi*  flowers  in  htr 
bonnet,  she'd  bo  made  a  show  of  before  she'd  get  iu,  and  as 
for  the  boys,  why!  there  wouldn't  one  of  them  look  the  Bido 
she'd  be  in — tho  rich  farmer's  sons,  oven,  wouldn't  liko  to  marry 
a  girl  that  wore  eucli  finery,  for  the  reason  that  they'd  think 
glio'd  make  a  poor  wife.    No,  no,  Becky !  the  servant-girls  in 


THE   IRISH   iiIRL   IN   AMERICA. 


163 


Hid  act  so 


Ireland  have  more  sense  than  be  laying  out  all  thoy  earn  on 
foolish  clothes  that  would  only  make  people  laujih  at  them 
when  they'd  have  them  on.  And  I  often  hoard  Mrs.  Herbert 
say,  Mary  !  that  it's  just  the  same  in  England,  and  that  numbers 
of  servant-girls  make  good  matches  among  the  farmers  and 
tradesmen,  and  even  shop-keepers,  just  because  they're  so 
neat  and  tidy  and  plain  in  their  dress,  and  so  fond  of  saving 
up  their  money," 

Kearing  this,  Becky  nodded  triumphantly  at  Mary.  "  There ! 
if  that  an't  just  what  I  often  told  Mary,  As  girls  dress  up  here, 
why  the  young  men  are  afraid  to  have  anything  to  do  with 
them.  What  prospect  is  it  for  a  man  earning  a  few  dollars  a 
week  to  marry  a  dressed-up  doll  of  a  girl  without  a  cent  in 
her  pocket  or  anything  better  to  begin  housekeeping  with 
than  a  couple  of  showy  flare-up  dresses,  a  bonnet  to  match, 
and  a  stylish  sunshade  ]" 

The  tone  in  which  Becky  said  this  made  the  girls  laugh,  but 
Mary  jumping  to  her  feet  gave  her  a  smart  slap  on  the 
shoulder:  "Will  you  not  be  bothering  us,  now.  with  your  old 
palavers  1  Ilusht !  is  that  the  parlor  bell  V 
^  It  was,  and  Mary  ran  up  stairs  where  she  remained  some 
time,  during  which  Becky  took  the  opportunity  to  have  a  talk 
with  Bessy  about  her  friend. 

"I  kind  of  like  Mary,"  said  the  precise  New  England 
woman,  "  and  I've  bin  a-trying  ever  since  she  came  to  Teach 
her  how  to  do  her  work  as  it  ought  to  be  done.  At  first  I 
thought  she  was  going  to  be  a  real  nice  tidy  girl,  but"— and 
Becky  shook  her  head  emphatically—"  I  find  there  an't  the 
least  use  in  trying  to  get  her  into  my  own  way?  " 

"Well!  it's  very  strange,"  said  Bessy  thoughtfully  ;  "you'd 
think  a  girl  that  has  such  taste  for  dressing  herself  would  have 
a  taste  for  keeping  every  thing  neat  and  clean  about  her." 

Becky  smiled  with  a  sort  of  patronizing  air  i^.s  she  replied : 
"I  guess  if  you  were  as  long  looking  at  help-girls  as  I  have 

bin   von   w.inlrln'f   cnonV    JITrs    *h»*        t»i i  ..  i  .    ■•■ 


164 


BESSY    CONWAY  !     OR, 


saw  a  stuck-up,  dandlfled  young  woman  in  place  that  Tvan't 
real  untidy  about  her  work.  I've  seen  them  go  out  ia  rich 
siik  dresses  and  every  thing  on  them  in  flrst-rato  stylo,  and  to 
see  them  about  their  work  they'd  be  more  like  scarecrows 
than  any  thing  else— so  dirty  that  you'd  hate  to  see  them 
around  the  house.  Many  a  time  I  wished  that  the  beaux  they 
were  so  fond  of  talking  of  could  only  get  a  peep  at  them  then 
—my  stars!  wouldn't  they  take  their  fancy!  Then  the  work 
—why,  I  tell  you,  Bessy  Conway!  it  would  be  many  times 
easier  to  do  it  one's  self  thaa  be  everlastingly  hunting  after 
them.  It's  real  hard  to  put  up  with  them— that  it  is— for  they 
won't  take  the  trouble  to  do  things  slick,  and  when  a  mistress 
finds  fault  with  them  for  not  doing  as  they  had  ought  to,  they'll 
give  sa'ce  to  no  end,  and  finish  with  '  I  can't  do  it  any  bettor, 
Mrs  So  and  So  !  if  you  don't  like  it)  get  another  !'  instead  of 
saying  that  they'd  try  and  do  better  for  the  time  to  come." 

"But,  my  goodness!  Reeky!  euro  Mary  can't  bo  as  bad  as 
all  that  comes  to !  Why,  at  homo  she  was  a  fine  sr  art  ciean 
girl  a.s  you'd  see  anywhere.     She'd  work  as  much  as  two." 

•'That  may  be,  Bessy!  but,  you  see,  the  work  was  as  dif- 
ferent as  could  bo.  I  was  raised  in  the  country  myself,  away 
out  in  Connecticut,  and  I  ought  to  know  what  country  work 
is.  Milking  cows,  and  cleaning  dairy-vessels,  and  feeding 
poultry  and  such  things  an't  the  least  bit  like  sweeping  car- 
pets, and  dusting  furniture,  and  washing  paintings,  and  ever  so 
many  other  little  matters  that  l)elong  to  a  housemaid's  work  in 
the  city.  I  wish  I  could  get  Mary  to  do  things  just  so!  Im 
sure  I've  tried  all  I  could.  There  wan't  any  one  but  me  to  see 
to  her-^. — " 

"Why,  where  was  the  mistress?"  Besriy  asked  in  surptiso. 

Becky  seldom  laughed  but  she  laughed  then— a  low,  dry 

laugh  peculiar  to  herself:    "Why,  out  about  the  city,  to  be 

euro.    Mrs.  Graham  has  got  the  business  of  so  many  fi  ionrls  to 

look  after  that  she  hasn't  a  moment's  time  to  look  after  her 


own. 


)i 


THE    IRISH    GIRL    IN    AMKRICA. 


165 


"  Goodness  gracious !  how  can  that  be  V 

"Well!  you  know  ohe  hasn't  any  family  of  her  own,  and 
she  gits  a  girl  in  to  do  her  sewing,  so  she  has  no  way  of  passing 
the  ume  at  ho.ae,  and  she  says  it's  so  lonesome  all  dav  long 
when  Mr.  Graham  is  at  business  that  she  can't  bear  it  noor 
dear  lady ! "  »  f  "^ 

"  Well  ?" 

"  Weil !  as  soon  as  ever  she  gets  her  breakfast  down  in  the 
morning  and  Mr.  Graham  off  to  his  store,  out  she  goes  herself 
and  a  sight  of  her  we  never  see  till  coming  on  ev^ening  again  " 

'-  Mercy  on  me,  Becky !  what  does  she  be  doin^  i" 

"As  if  I  could  tell  how  a  lady  spends  her  tim'e  when  .he's 
out!  1  guess  she's  shopping  part  of  the  dayar.d  paying  visits 
and  finding  out  what's  going  on  the  rest  of  the  time.  The  only 
thing  I  know  about  it  is  that  she  has  always  a  budget  of  news 
at  dinner  for  Mr.  Graham  about  all  .he  folks  they  know,  so 
that  looks  as  if  .he  took  pains  to  hunt  i.  up.  But  she's  ^al 
good  to  me-r  wouldn't  wish  a  kinder  mistreas.  I  may  just 
do  as  I  like  all  the  week  round." 

M."f°/,?  ^r'""  "'^'^''  ^^^^^yJ"  said  Bessy  shre;vdly,  "I 
think  If  Mrs.  Graham  had  other  girls  to  deal  with  she  wouldn't 
spend  so  much  of  her  time  out." 

"  That  may  be,  too,"  said  Becky,  with  much  self-compla- 
Cj-mcy;  'I  v^ili  say  for  myself  that  there  an't  any J,in.  ne- 
glected or  anything  wasted  in  my  part  of  the  work  no  more 

strange  in  New  York  for  ladies  to  spend  their  day  out  " 
"No!" 

^'  No,  indeed  I^why,  child,  I  have  lived  in  famiiies-.some  of 
them  only  .n  middling  circumstances,  too-where  there  was 
three,  or  four,  or  five  children  to  look  after,  and  it  was  just  the 
sanae.  Let^  the  money  come  how  h  might  they  had  a  sewin^.- 
.Iirl  most  of  the  time,  and  dressed  and  went  out  everv  day  as 
sure  as  the  affernoon  came,  and,  goodness  gracious!  if  you 


tiaw  them  on  liie  aunn 


-1 !>"»r     ttitJr   U 


wa-^-i. 


your 


166 


BESSY    CONWAY;     OR, 


eyes  so. with  jewelry  and  satins,  and  laces  and  all  such  things, 
that  you  scarce  could  bear  to  look  at  them," 

"  Lord  bless  my  soul !  aro  you  in  earnest  1"  ejaculated  Bessy. 

"  I  guess  I  am,"  said  Becky,  with  her  strange  laugh.  "  But 
that  an't  the  worst  of  it.  I  have  known  that  same  sinving-girl 
I  spoke  of  to  come,  perhaps  a  dozen  times,  after  her  monkey, 
before  she  could  git  it,  though  the  lady  knew  very  well  she 
had  a  poor  sickly  mother  depending  on  what  she  earned.  As 
for  the  house-girls— she  had  three  of  us,  the  lady  I'm  speak- 
ing  of  now— we  used  to  have  to  take  our  wage's  in  quarters 
and  half  dollars,  and  glad  to  get  it  at  that,  sometimes  after  we 
had  left  and  gone  to  other  places.  I  tell  you,  Bessy,  one  sees 
the  world  when  she's  living  out— between  ladies  and  their  help 
I've  seen  enough  of  it.  Well!  what's  going  on  now?"  ad- 
dressing Mary,  who  had  just  come  into  the  kitchen,  and  hav- 
ing  carefully  shut  the  door,  threw  herself  into  a  chair,  laugh- 
ing  immoderately. 

"  You  that's  so  good  at  guessing,  Becky,  guess  what  I  was 
at  ever  since  T'  she  said,  as  soon  as  she  could  find  voice  to 
speak. 

After  sundry  ineflectual  attempts,  Becky  guessed  she  must 
give  it  up.     "  What  were  you  doinc  ?" 

"Well!  I  was  helpitig  Mrs.  Graham  to  teach  Flora  to  beg. 
She  was  sittin'  in  the  rockin'-chair  givin'  out  the  word  of  com- 
mand, and  I  was  holdin'  up  the  dog's  paws  every  time  to  get 
her  into  the  way  of  it.  Mr.  Graham  laughed  at  the  two  of  us 
Ull  you  might  tie  him  with  a  straw,  and  /  had  hard  work,  you 
may  be  sure,  to  keep  in  till  I  got  out  of  the  room.  I  declare 
my  sides  are  sore  with  the  laughing,  so  they  are  !  A  full  hour 
by  the  clock  teaching  Flora  to  stand  on  hev  hind  legs  I— oh  ! 
oh!  oh  !-and  the  mistress  hadn't  time  to  darn  a  fine  c.llar  of 
hers  that  was  torn  in  the  wash— she  had  to  put  it  away  till 
Miss  Johnston  comes  next  week  !— and  I  heard  Mr.  Graham 
scolding  like  fifty  because  there  wasn't  a  button  on  his  shirt ! 
Oh  Lord !  oh  Lord !" 


TIIK    lUl.SII    (iliu,    IN-    AMKRICA. 


167 


Becky  thought  it  her  duty  to  robuko  Mary  for  lau^hin.  so 
at  her  mistress,  but  Mary  only  laughed  the  more  •  "  I  t Lv 
wonder  I'd  laugh  V>  she  said  wiping"  the  tears  ?:.  ,      e/J 

alf  h?.  "  u\r'  ''"^^ '  ^"" '^  '^""'^  >— 'f  if  you  saw 
al  the  trouble  that  poor  woman  was  in  because  Flora  wasso 
hard  to  put  manners  into.  Lord  knows  you'd  think  itJaslif! 
or^deajth  with  he,  and  that's  what  made  the  maslL^^a^^^ 

Bessy  was  much  amused  by  Mary's  ludicrous  account  of 
^e  important  business  which  had  kept  her  so  Ion'  up  "tlirs 

ne  "as,  or  m  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Graham's  old  servan* 
Her  t.me  was  up,  moreover,  so  she  hurried  away  after  nv^n:: 
Becky  to  go  and  see  her  in  Monroe  street.  "  I  know  von  .^nf 
Mary  can't  come  together  "  said  she  "  h  ,  ^      ^^ 

aea  ti„e,  ,„„  .„„.,7    BecC"- ;.      '^^rj:™  Z 
had  taken  a  great  fancy  to  B«,.v,  and  ofte:  told  Marr  aflr 
vajds  .hat  if  rte  wonld  only  keep  „„„  „f  *.,•  comZv    „d 

T.TZ  "^ ""- '-  '"»"■  -"  -  ^  ^--'"rt: 

That  same  erento^,  an  honr  or  two  lator  Honrv  irerl,.r, 
«ttm.  a,„„.  in  h.  .oom-a  front  hed-roo„:^  "r^'Cr 
Ins-hon-e  ,„„.,„here  in  Eldrid«  or  For.,y.he  «roal>4.  „at.et 
no  tnovv  which  He  ,at  at  a  -^blo  in  the  centre  of  t  he  roo™ 
w,th  h.  head  .„owM  down  „  hi,  chest,  and  hi.  le„  ."itched 
at  fullengh  nuder  the  t»,le,  whibt  one  hand  played  tl  ' 

With  the   go  d  waroh-ohafn   t-nt  1,„„      •       .   ,  l^"*0'eu   Kiiy 

open  brow,  and  a  sneer  on  his  lip  that  extended  itself  over'his 
whole  face,  gwmg  a  sort  of  sardonic  character  to  features  tha 
nature  had  mad*,  fair  to  look  upon 

"Lyl!^f^"^1  "'  '"''  ''^"''  ^■•^^''"'^  "J'  the  letter  a^ain 

my  mother  ,s  alm«t  as  griping  as  my  f,.th«r.     M^meyCd 

position  are  the  idnU  of  h-#u      r  ^.  .  """^  *"« 

-«..     i,^^  ag  gee  ag»in  what  iihe  says : 


168 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


'"My  dear  son,'— ay!  very  dear,  indeed,— 'I  have  Just  re- 
ceived your  letter  w.uch  I  have  not  dared  to  sho^v  to  your 
father.     He  has  not  forgiven  yon,  Henry !  and  what  is  worse,  I 
fear  he  never  will'— I'm  pretty  sure  of  it,  mother!  if  yow  never 
said  it-'  And,  after  all,  you  cannot  blame  him'— oh !  of  course 
not !— '  you  betrayed  his  confidence'— I  never  had  it  to  betray 
— '  you  robbed  him  of  his  honest  gains'  "—the  sneer  came  again 
on  Herbert's  face  bitterer  than  ever,  as  he  mntbred  :— "  honest, 
indeed  I— I  think  the  less  we  say  about  that  the  better.    '  Two 
hundred  pounds  in  these  times  is  no  trifle.'     It  is  to  your  nis- 
band,  madam !     '  And  it  was  not  worth  your  while  to  l^urn  your 
father's  heart  against  you  for  such  a  paltry  sum— you  know  it 
would  all  have  been  yours  some  day,— there  M-as  no  one  for  it 
but  yourself,'— humph!  that's  live  horse  and  youll  get  grass,— 
I'd  rather  have  a  little  as  I  wont  along,  and  loss  in  tho  long 
run,     'But  oh!   Henry!   Henry!   there's  worse  than  all  tha't 
said  of  you  hero'— there  is,  eh  ?— '  con  it  be  true  that  you  took 
Denis  Conway's  daughter  off  with  you  1— some  say  you  married 
her,  but  oh!  surely,  surely,  you  would  not  disgrace  your 
family  by  such  a  step  !'    Ha  !  ha !  ha  !  that  is  so  like  her— dis- 
obedience,  robbery,  and  all  the  other  sins  possible  and  impos- 
sible laid  to  my  charge  are  honorable  and  meritorious  acts 
when  compared  with  a  plebeian  marriage !— that  alone  would 
entail  disgrace,  it  seems  !— and  then"— the  frown  on  his  brow 
grew  darker  still— "  and  then,  no  thought  of  the  possible  in- 
jury  done  to  Bessy  in  case  I  had  taken  her  with  me— but  not 
as  a  wife— no  thought  of  the  shame  and  misery  that  would, 
then,  indeed,  fall  on  a  virtuous  family  respected  by  all  in  their 
own  sphere— no  thought  of  the  ruin  such  a  connection  would 
bring  to  Aer— the  black  sin  to  both— oh !  mother  I  mother ! 
what  wonder  is  it  that  I  am  what  I  am  !" 

There  was  little  more  in  the  letter  except  an  urgent  request 
for  Henry  to  let  the  writer  know  if  it  was  true  about  that  un- 
fortunate marriage— if  not,  all  might  yet  be  well.  As  the 
young  man  glanced  at  the  neat,  fair  signature  written  in  a 


TH«    IRISH   GIRL   IS   AMERICA. 


Puahed  back  LiacLl^Ih. '"";'"'■  ""■"•>"  »"  hi"  fico, ),. 
-•Iking  the  room  wUh  rlpM  s trid  "'  """^  '"^  »"""--" 
gloomy  «,„e„  tono  •         '       ^"''-  '"'"""■'°«  ">  him^If  in  a 

«uM::u':riirr:','tr-'  '^ ' "»"  ™'^ «-'  -•« 

them  both-and  -vb/no      „ad  I  ."f  "•""'  ""■  '  ""'""'o" 

Wn  Walters  and  othe.     foo  !^       «  "'  ""'•"'"'  <    ^ap- 

my  father  that  which  ho  hMeth.f ""'"''  '^'""^  '''•''■» 

•peaks  of  my  fttherVhoZsr  ,„, .  ^''  T  '"  ""  ""'"'  «'» 
cUId  of  theirs  were  I  so  aaX  I  -^™"'  '»  '«»  I  «-ero  a„ 

««ghtt„k„o„herMaarl  'Mte'Ta /'  '""-""'^  »"• 
novice  in  this  world's  ivUe, ,    iT"     ,    ""  ""'P°'°  him  such  a 

father  has  not  found  it  „),  out  LL  ''""°'  '"■'"'''"■  that  my 
When  he  .o„  come  to  kn  :  ^'IZl^rn'  7,'"  ""'  "=  "" 
thmg  to  trouble  me  here  and  if  !  \,  "^  ''°  ™°  ^^  ""y- 
to  a  milestone  or  '         "  ''°'  ''•  ""V  So  whjstle  jig. 

Ha !  ha !  ha .    - Thetr       7 "'^ " """° '™-' 
aa  our  old  p„s„n  uTed  rs'*  rt"*Vth-^f  f  ""'  ""^  ■"' ' 
able  parent  riding  off  Jn  th«  ,1!,      \  ^  '  ^''^  "^^  ^ener- 

truant  son  and  l^s  1  3^^  tT'  '>  '  ''""'  "  "^^^'  ^^  ^"'^ 
figure !  And  my  ^eZeZ^T?'"' '  ^""^''"'^  ^^^  «"'  a 
through  her  gold's^eotcles "    '   ^^''^^  ''''''  ^""^  ^'  ^^«  ^oor 

erately.  That  being  over  htn  oof  ,  ''"'  ^'"°'"*"^  '"^'«°d. 
and  a  softened  expr;3sio  '  oleoverh  rT?  '''''''"  ^'^^""-' 
but  one  being  in  the  wnvM  ...'^    ?       ■        "'''•    "  ^''"''^  ^« 

jO..  I  !ove.    i.e  murmured  softly, 


no 


BESSY   CON  WAY  ;     OR, 


"but  one  who  has  ponar  over  my  heart.  Some  secret  bond 
of  sympatl/  exists  between  us  and  I  know  I  could  <vin 
Bossy — yes,  I  know  and  feel  it — but  liere  again  my  wayward 
fate — or  my  evil  genius — flings  its  dark  shadow  between  us 
two.  I  could  set  the  world  at  defiance  and  marry  her  within 
an  hour,  for  there  is  a  treasure  in  her  heart  and  in  her  i uind 
which  /  could  turn  to  account,  but  she  will  not  hear  me— she 
will  not  trust  me—the  curse  of  that  dark  hour  of  guilt  is  upon 
me,  and  will  be  to  the  day  I  die  !  I  have  hoard  of  the  curso  of 
Cain  followinfc  men  the  wide  world  through— well !  that  brand, 
anyhow,  is  not  on  my  brow— the  thing  that  seems  so  foul  lo 
others  was  but  a  boyish  frolic — it  harmed  no  man  nor  woman 
either — why  does  the  Avenging  Arm,  then,  still  pursue  met 
Why  are  those  awful  words  stamped  on  my  soul  in  letters  of 
flame  burning,  burning,  burning  ever  1  Oh  God!  who  car 
stand  against  Thy  justice  1" 

A  knock  came  to  the  door  just  then,  and  Herbert  putting 
the  letter  hastily  out  of  sight,  opened  the  door  and  Dixou 
walked  in  with  that  bold,  swaggering  air  which  was  natural 
to  him.  There  w.t;  a  smilo  on  his  face,  too,  but  it  throw  no 
light  over  the  d' / >  features.  lie  was,  or  at  least  appeared  to 
bo,  in  high  spir  ■ 

"  Give  me  j><v.  jC"  bort!  I've  got  flrst-rate  news  for  you," 
he  said,  "  I'm  the  hickiest  fellow  in  New  York  to-night." 

"  As  how  1"  Herbert  asked  rather  stiffly ;  ho  felt  annoyed  at 
the  fellow's  intrusion,  but  did  not  care  to  say  so. 

"  As  howl  why,  as  the  winner  of  three  hundred  dollars." 

"  That  loas  a  good  plucking.    Who  was  the  fowl  1" 

"  Oh  *-  a  goose  of  a  Southerner— a  Georgian  from  Savannah." 

"  Did  you  pocket  the  cash  1"  said  Herbert,  in  a  half  incredu- 
lous tone. 

"  I  guess  I  did,  in  New  York  paper— A  n»mber  Owb  !" 

"  Have  you  got  it  about  you  1" 

"  I  rather  think  I  have."  And  after  some  moment's  search 
in  his  pocket-book,  he  drew  out  throe  hundred-dollar  bills, 


TKl  IRI^iH  GIRL  IN    AilLRICA. 


cret  bond 
ould  =vin 
nay\/arcl 
tween  us 
ler  within 
her  mind 

me — she 
It  ia  upon 
)  curse  of 
lat  brand, 
0  foul  to 
or  woman 
rsue  mol 
letters  of 

who  cap 

t  putting 
id  Dixou 
13  natural 
threw  no 
peared  to 

for  you," 
ht." 
moyed  at 

ollars." 

vanuah." 
■  incredu- 

k!" 

I'a  search 
liar  bills, 


171 


Which  he  handM  to  Ilorbor..  an  '  then  sat  watchlnfi    ,e  voun« 
man  s  countenituco  while  ha  roarl  if  «-;m.  «u  .  -'"""S 

uj,ain.        Weil :  are  you  satisflodl" 
"Of  course  I  am," 

to  .u|.i.<«o_th»  jado  Forluno  begins  to  mile  on  ,  -  as  sl,o 
-  1  on  you  by  a„d  by_c„urage  and  persev,        ^  ,„„  ZZ 
are  sure  to  conquer."  jou  anow, 

"  I  tell  you  again  I  don't  uanl  to  conque  .„„  „o„„ 

onriugh  to  serve  my  turn."  ' 

But  Dixon  «uld  not  take  that  for  an  a.swer.    Ho  knew 
hmsel       ,  ™  T'"'  ■""->--'•»  "-I  than  Herbert  did 

IJ/,  H   •    .,■  '         ^  "  '■'"''  ''"'"'™'''  "nanagenient  he  sue 
oeeded  in  drawing  the  secret  out  of  him     That  ^ai '1!,,, 
r«t  was  easy,  and  in  half  an  hour,  skilful  ope^tioron  „e  ° 
bert  s  weak  pon,.s  he  had  worked  him  up  to  a  stale  of  e.     e 
meat  that  swept  away  every  vestiiro  of  „„„i»  eicite- 

resolution  that  had  been  gather""';  re,  Lt"'  "'T^  "^ 
the  trying  „„„,«  „,  „.X  ill-stTrCX    ^'^'"s:  .'ki:! 

we  e  rmi  °  ■"""  "  P"'>'  "'  ■■  "e"  W  fellows"  who 

.rri^X    """   "  "'™"'«  "■•"-■".own  gaming-house 


il 


•JUiUiua 


MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION   TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0 


1^ 

16.3 


13.2 


[4.0 


2.2 

1.8 


^    APPLIED  IIVHGE     I 


nc 


1653  East  Main  Street 

Rochester,   New  York        14609       USA 

(716)   482-0300-  Phone 

(716)  288-5989  -Fox 


112 


BESSY    CONWAY;     OR, 


in  every  vein  and  throbbing  in  every  pulse.  The  lash  of  con- 
science was  lacerating  his  soul— he  hated  his  companions,  for 
all  night  long  they  had  been  robbing  him  of  his  ill-got  trea- 
sures— ''plucking  him,"  as  he  had  said  of  the  Georgian  who 
was  but  the  creature  of  Dixon's  imagination — the  decoy-duck, 
as  it  were,  to  draw  Herbert  into  the  snare.  Yes !  Herbert 
hated  them  all,  for  they  had  taunted  and  goaded  him  into  the 
jaws  of  ruin,  but  he  hated  himself  most  of  all  for  allowing 
himself  to  become  their  dupe. 

"  Buy  a  Herald,  m\— Daily  Herald,  sir!"  The  voice  was 
that  of  Mike  Miliigan,  and  as  Herbert  glanced  down  at  the 
boy's  rather  peculiar  face,  he  recognized  him  at  once  as  the 
same  who  had  brought  him  Paul's  message  that  night  at  the 
Shakspoare.  Somehow  he  winced  at  the  sight  of  him,  and 
vexed  at  being  seen  emerging  from  such  a  place  at  such  a 
time  he  said  what  under  other  circumstances  he  would  not 
have  said — what  he  never  said  before : 

"  Go  to  h with  your  Herald  /" 

"Thank  you  kindly,  Mr.  Herbert!"  the  urchin  replied, 
"maybe  you  want  company  on  the  way— I'd  be  willing  to 
oblige  you,  sir,  but  I  don't  know  as  they  want  papers  there !" 

The  boy  turned  a  corner  and  was  out  of  sight  before  Her- 
bert had  made  up  his  mind  whether  to  inflict  corporal  pun- 
ishment en  him  or  not. 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA. 


ns 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

how  his  friend  Ned  Fin!..        .      ^^annigan,  going  up  to  see 

a  Hde  With  It"  X  »tT; :::  „?r  "^  ■"■" '°  "<> 

h.  wa,  going  „„  buaines,.    ItwasLMompln  r,"""'  """" 

Sfwi:?';^  "^""*  "'ec';  ":'i :  reXn 

neias  whose  freshness  was  as  p-nfofni  *,. « •  fe'ctn 

of  the  deserf  M  ih         a  grateful  to  his  eyes  as  the  oasis 

he  w  n  «^"d-Parched,  sun-scorched  traveller     So 

a.r  and  the  .woet-smelling  herbage,  and  the  rapid  <Io,r  oflZ 


1''*  BESSY    CONWAY  ;    OR, 

♦•  My  bark  o'er  tho  billow  daah'd  gloriously  on. 
And  glad  were  the  notes  of  the  sailor-boy's  song, 
Yet  sad  was  my  bosom,  and  bursting  with  woe, 
l-or  my  heart's  in  Old  Ireland  wherever  I  go. 

"  More  dear  than  the  roses  all  Italy  yields, 
Are  the  red-breasted  daisies  that  spangled  the  fields, 
I  he  shamrock,  the  hawthorn,  the  white-blob^om'd  sloe. 
Uh  !   my  heart's  in  Old  Ireland  wherever  I  go. 

*•  Tho'  lilies  and  roses  no  more  deck  tho  plains. 
And  the  summer  is  gone,  still  the  shamiock  remains.— 
l^iko  a  friend  in  uiisCortuiie,  it  blooms  o'er  tho  snow. 
Uh  !  my  heart's  in  Old  Ireland  wherever  I  go. 

"  Then  I  sigh  and  1  vow  that  if  e'er  T  get  ho-ne. 
No  more  from  my  c'ear  little  cottnge  I'll  roam, 
The  harp  shall  resound  and  the  goblet  shall  flow 
For  my  heart's  in  Old  Ireland  wherever  I  go."  ** 

"  That's  ycu,  Paul !"  said  Ned  in  a  more  cheerful  tone,  ?s  the 
last  line,  repeated  again,  died  away  on  Paul's  lips  ;  "  bedad  ! 
it's  yourself  can  do  it!  By  the  laws!  I  didn't  hear  a  song 
since  I  left  home  that  did  my  heart  so  much  good  as  that ! 
Well !  now,  I'd  give  a  good  deal  to  have  a  voice  like  yours, 
for  I'm  sure  you  need  never  feel  sad  or  sorry  while  you  can 
raise  such  a  lilt  as  that— it'll  carry  your  heart  back  over  the 
salt  sea  the  heaviest  time  it  is !" 

"Pooh!  pooh!  man,"  said  Paul  carelessly,  "I'd  rather 
hear  the  voice  of  the  cuckoo  than  all  the  songs  I  could  sing  in 
a  year." 

"  I'd  rather  hear  yourself  than  fifty  c  js,"  said  one  fiom 
a  grorp  of  laborers  who  were  shoulderinj:  their  spades  and 
shovels  to  "  wend  their  homeward  way"  after  their  day  of  hard 
toil  "  at  the  rich  man's  gate,"—"  Not  but  what  I  have  a  respect 
for  the  poor  bird  on  account  of  old  times  and  where  I  used  to 

■*  The  above  verses,  so  sweet  in  their  simplicity,  so  full  of  exquisite 
pathos,  are  said  to  have  been  written  by  a  young  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter from  the  North  of  Ireland  who  was  drowned  in  the  Schuylkill  at 
Philadelphia.  Tho  story  goes  that  they  were  found  in  the  pocket  of 
this  unfortunate  gentlemoQ. 


THE   IRISH   Glm.   IS    AMKmCA.  n."> 

W  her,  a  place  that  maybe  l-ll  nerer  .cea«ai„-stin  I'd  .„„,  or 
hear  you  any  day  than  ker.  for  she  ha,  on]y  the  „„c  ,    Co  aTd 

.hat  hoin  t  to  look  over  your  shoulder  for  an  answer  I" 
laborers       """^  "'  ''°'"''"   '^'"=''  "«»  "^  °°»  «'   "■<> 
"Wall !  (hen,  I  b'lieve  he  is-he  passed  up  hore  a  IMl. 
«  ,  eago  ,•„  «,      oacl.  htaself  an'  theListresJarA;! 

•'Or  their  nianimies  either,"  suggested  another. 
,o  7'"J^"*  ""  »""<"•  for  that,"  said  the  one  who  first 
accosted  Paul:  "There's  worse  than  him  or  her  ridinMn 
coaches  these  times-if  they  haven't  the  larnin'  or  trfln! 
.speech  like  the  rale  quality,  they  made  their  money  holtlv 
what  they  have  is  their  own,  an'  that's  what  ca"  be  st^;; 
many  a  one  that  carries  as  high  a  head  as  they  do  " 

Leaving  these  homely  raoralizers  (o  pursue  the  subject  at 
their  e,3ure  m  beguilemcnt  of  their  homeward  march  we 
must  follow  our  oddly  matched  comrades  up  to  the  door  If 
the  palatial  mansion  where  -the  master'  dwelt  in  „h"^l 


ne 


BE3SY    CONWAY  ;     OK, 


intended  for  aristocratic  splendor.    The  building  ^as  of  bro^nj 
stone  with  windows  opening  almost  to  the  floor  on  every  story 
and  portals  large  and  lofty  leading  to  its  spacious  hall.  "  Alonrr' 
the  front  ran  a  broad  piazza  whose  roof  was  supported  by  VmU 
and  graceful  pillars  of  Egyptian  marble,  around  whicl'   Urn 
rarest  flowers  of  Spring  were  twining  their  fairy  tendrils  in 
preparation  for  the  gorgeous  show  of  Summer.     A  slopinr. 
lawn  lay  in  front  of  the  house,  its  hue  of  emerald  velvet  iiuli- 
cating  the  care  bestowed  upon  it.     The  view  through  the  liilf- 
closed   curtains  of  crimson  and  yellow  damask  way  like  a 
glimpse  into  some  of  those  palaces  of  Eastern  story  our  child- 
hood's wonder  and  delight,  and  Nod  Finigan  said  to  his  friend 
as  he  timidly  placed  his  hand  on  the  bell : 

"Well!  do  you  know,  Paul,  myselfs  afraid  to  venture  in. 
Still,  I  suppose  I  must,  as  we  came  so  far." 

He  rang  with  a  tremulous  hand,  and  the  door  was  opened 
by  a  colored  servant  in  livery.  He  looked  sava-o  Ned 
thought,  and  he  did,  too,  for  ho  had  opened  the  door  wiih  bin 
best  bow  ready  in  expectation  of  some  distinguished  or  at 
least,  well-dressed  visitor.  Seeing  Ned  and  the  dwarf 'he 
askad  gruffly  what  they  wanted,  and  seemed  well  inclined  to 
shut  the  door  in  their  faces. 

"Agoodevenin'toyou!"  said  Ned  in  a  deprecating  tone  ■ 
"  would  you  be  pleased  to  toll  mo  is  Mister  McRorv°in  the 
house  r' 

"Can't  say,"  said  the  nigger  grandly,-  "what  you  want 
him  fori" 

"  Well !  I  just  came  up  to  see  him  about  a  little  business  of 
my  ovni." 

"'Mr.  McRory  neber  sees  nobody  on  business  hero.  Go  to 
his  office  to-morrow." 

"But  couldn't  I  speak  a  word  with  him?    If  you'd  be  so 
kind  as  to  tell  him  that  it's  Ned  Finigan  that  wants' to  see  him 
I'm  sure  he  wouldn't  refuse  after  me  and  this  other  decent  man 
comia'  so  far." 


THE   IRISH  GIRL   IN   AMERICA.  177 

*loor^"  M^sii' '"'' "'  "^'"-'"^  ''''  "'^^''^  ^-<J«  to  Shut  the 
(loor—    Missis  sees  company  to-night  " 

"  Z!'V'^r^  ^''  *"'  ^y^^'g^  V'  Ned  broke  in  rather  abruptly 
Doesn't  she  see  them  evenj  nirrht  v  aurupuy. 

p2ZZTT:'  "'"  ''  '"'^^^  "^'  P^--^"»"  t^«  <J^olI  e.- 
Sre^sio^n  '  ^  '"^'  *°°'  ^'^^  ''^^''^  '^  -«-^  -^^^  -ch 

^:r::^:^;-z^y  ^^'^^'-^^^^  -'^  ^^^  ^^^- 

"God  reward  her!"  ejaculated  Ned,  lakin.r  the  word  in  i,« 

r:  .XT"™  !""°"^''  *" »'"-  "s»e°  *;:;;;  e^ 

Su„day!!L'°  ""'"'  ""^  I-=<l^y-if»  a  wonder  it  i,,,' 
There',  no  saying  what  the  nigger  might  have  done  or  said 

Tent  srf . :  y  "'""''^  °'  "'*'»■ "'"  j-'  at  th,  T 

ft  lend  :,  .^    *"  °'"'^'""  ■"^"^  "''  wtaranee  at  The 

was  plea"^"''  "'  '  ™°'°''  '"  ^^^^"^  *  -""  """  ^O"-  '^t 

';  Who  ,8  that,  Sambo  1"  said  Mr.  JIcEory  to  his  man 
^_^'^It.sme,sir,..s^dNedadvanei„g  dow/the  ionrL.!.  hat 

"  WhoareyoM/" 

"  Ned  Finigan,  sir." 

"What  the  deuce  brings  you  here,  Ned  Finigan  1" 

Ned  began  m  an  apologetic  tone:  "I  made  so  bold  as  to 

izijzr  ^^"'  «^^'  ^^  -^-^  to  a  litue  bus^irra^: 

"  Do  you  know,  Mister  Ned  Finigan,  that  I  have  an  office  iu 
town  where  you  may  find  me  every  day  from  nine  to  f^ur  :" 

you  weTn'tT..'"^'  ''-'  ^"'  '  ''-  ''-^  '^^'-  "-  '^y^  ^"t 
"Really,  you're  a  troublesome  fellow,  and  you  come  at  ■. 

UIB  about  the  readiest  way  to  get  you  off^now  mind,  I  havo 


!'■'■.'  f 

{'C'll 

km 


178 


BESSY    CONWAV  J    OR, 


no  time  to  listen  to  long-winded  stories.    Wlio  13  that  ath.r 
fellow  1    Has  he  a  little  business,  too  r-  '^  °"''' 

''He's  a  decent  man,  sir,  a  friend  of  mine,  that  cume  vMih 
me  for  company."  t'luie  \Mtu 

"Let  him  sit  in  the  hall,  Sambo!"  said  Sambo's  ma-.er  at 
the  same  time  eivinii  Snmhn  n  ,.  •  i  '^"'"os  raa.tei,  at 

Paul  anticinaf.rf  ^      V  ?         '"^  suggestive  of  caution. 

1  aul  antic  pated  Sambo's  reluctant  invitation,  by  sayino  he'd 
rather  wait  outride.    He  supposed  Ned  wouldn't  be  Ion"" 
JMr  McRory  led  the  way  into  a  room  opening  on  tl  e  hall  ^t 
he  .de  opposite  the  parlor.    It  was  splendidly  fitted  up  wtt 
helves  and  mahogany  booic-cases,  and  as  ma'y  books  Nd 

mont^  TbeTe'^'^'^'^^'"  ""'''  ^^^^  ^«^^^"»' -'  ^  " 
r Which  Ned  l"J  ^"'""'^  "  ^'''  ^^^"^«'  '^^'  ^^-^  ^'k- 
hangmg  to  the  ground.  It  was  well  for  Ned  that  he  was  no 
connoisseur  of  paintings,  for  he  admired  those  he  sa        oird 

he  told  Mr  McRory  who  w^as  us  much  flattered  by  tl  e  com! 
phment  as  f  Ned  Finigan  had  come  from  tho  dasL  V^le  of 
Arno  instead  of  the  golden  Valley  of  the  Suir.  Whether  the 
hope  of  such  a  result  had  been  at  the  bottom  of  Ned's  critical 
observation,  is  beyond  our  power  to  tell,  but  certain  it  i  tha 
Mr  McRory  was  a  different  man  altogether  after  this  timely 
manifestation  of  Ned's  taste  for  the  fine  arts 

smihwJv  ^^„''«^^«"g.^'i"^y«".^^ed1"  said  the  great  man 
sm  hngly.       How  goes  it  with  the  Castle  these  times  v 

Famously,  Mr.  McRory.  famously,  sir  !  and  the  sona  thin. 
ails  mysel  ,  either,  glory  be  to  God,  only  in  regard  to  Peerv  Mu't 
Phy-that's  Ally's  father-he's  out  o'  work  al  the  present  tt; 
an  I  heard  you  were  on  the  look-out  for  a  settled  sober  man 

odnve  some  of  the  horses-now  that's  what  Peery  s  best  at 
for  he  was  a  carman  to  home-you  know  what  that  is,  sir  v> 
I  guess  I  do,"  said  McRory  with  a  good-natured  smiie  • 

bu  about  your  father-in-law-now  couldn't  you  have  .vaite. 
till  I'd  be  m  town  to-morrow  1  eh,  Ned  V 


TOE   IRISH   nmi,   IN   .,MER,CA. 


179 

t=  too  ,ate  ir  I  «T.edun :;;:::;::'. '  '"''^■' """' "»'  '■" 
McHo.,  ™,.  ,e  win  ;ir ,  :zr;:r„;:L""''  "- 

1 11  .oe  about  Pe„,.y.»  ,,„,;„,,,  ,„.,„or  1      V, ,  ™'"- 

«.y  offlco  will,  „i„,  about  twelro  „ VloA  "'  "'"■"  ™""'  "■ 

ne,err,e'it'°  ''°'''  '"'='"  McRor/,-„ay  .ou-  .hado. 

woXTitf  r  «r  s'^" '°  *^ ""'--  -->-  '"•» 

fcce  as  fresh,  ami  fair  and  ro™  ,  ',;       ™  "^o*. ''^"omely 

c»orty.m-o  was  the  iZ^ZnJr^.t  '''ZT:  T"^"' 
"  rece  ved"  some  h'i]f  -,  ^.,      ,   ,.     ^  ^"®  ^'^<^  already 

and  the  so«„d Tf  el  rLt  ™  f  '"  """  S™"^-""-  "r  le.^ 
others.  ^°  "''"='"  announoed  the  arrival  of 

had  taken  his  .J^^ZZTTl  ""'  '"^  '"■'"='"'-'' 
tte  eyes  of  ■■  the  qnalitv  ■•  W.J  ^  °  .  5°  ™^  """'  '''■'"»  ""^'^ 
and  there,  indeed  ho  LodMn.','"  """  *^  ■'"»■■'  "'»"«, 
«tone  base  of  the  ron  rvr  I  °  ™"  ^'"'"S  ^  "">  low 
lawn  from  the  high  road  ™tl;"I.'  '""^''  *''■  M'^'t" 
amusins  himself 'with  tt  gambols  /flnr'^"'^  '  ''  "•"'''''"■ 
branches  of  a  neighhorin/rden     '       '  °  ''<■  ^-"^  '-■ '"  '"» 

of  hi,  speed  down  the  avenue  '^  ""*'"  ^'  ""»  '"I' 

"  'Deed  I  didn't,  then  "  «nM  t>o  i  ..-r , 
way  <mt  of  there  in  ITtCt  T\t       Z  T""''  ""*  ^"^ 
ne  they  want  in  it     ThTtt  A    ~"  1'"  '  "«  '*"»  "  you  or 
•0  wait,  an-  I-m  gUd  I  dM  ^v    """"'  ""'  «"»°  ■">™  "ore 
it  watchln^  the  antia  of  th«t„      r*"""^  «"  «»«  time  of 
broke  laughin-  st  W "  ""'"•   ' ''«'"«  »?  b««f, 


180 


BEssy  conu'ay:   or. 


Bad  manners  to  you  for  a  spri.ssaun,"  said  Ned  pleasantly 
w,ll  you  get  up  out  o-  that,  and  let  us  be  movin'  homo .      t'.' 

easy  seen  you  haven't  much  to  trouble  you,  or  it  isn't'thore 

you'd  be  squattin'  so  contentedly." 
"  'Deed  I  could  sit  till  mornin'  in  it,  an'  never  find  the  time 

long  e>ther.    Still  I  think  it's  as  well  to  be  on  the  move     Ah' 

sZJ    aTb'    T.  !'''•'''  "'^''''''^  ""^«  animir.W 
f^ports  had  beguiled  his  time  so  happily 

As  the  two  trudged  along  to  meet  the'stage,  Ned.  bein.  in  a 
better  humor  for  talking,  rattled  away  with  his  ^ccust^omed 
fluency  on  a  great  variety  of  subjects.  All  of  a  sudd  n  Paui 
.rne^^^^^^^ 

"How  is  Mister  Herbert  getfin'  on  these  times r' 
"How  the  mischief  do  /know  7"  returned  Ned  sharply 
What  have  /  to  do  with  Mister  Herbert  ?"  ' 

"  Why,  I'm  told  he's  a  daily  visitor  at  the  Castle,  and  brings 
a  power  of  custom  there,  too.    Maybe  it  isn't  true  though.''^ 

men         I    ."'  '       ''  ""'''"  ^^'^  ^'^  ^^^^  «°-«  ^^^^a^ra^- 

vrnJr."         ''""'  ''^ "'  '"^  '^^  '•'"^'  ^""^  ^'°'«  "'^t  *  ^^^y 

pock^e^s."'"  *''"  ''"'  '"  '"^  ''"  '''  ''  ^''^'  ^«  *-o  P-k- 
menHy.  ^  ^''  ^''  ""^^"'^^  ^^^^  '^^''  ^*'"  "^^^^  ^ed  vehe- 

n.Z'' •.."'''^v'  ''  '"''  '"'^  ^'"^  ^'^  ^"  '^^"J^^l  tone,  "an' 
r/h'  ;      1     i"^"'  ''''  '"  '^^^  '«  ''''''-'  th«  '--"ord  to 

Dear  r^  '^  .!  ^^  "'''''''  ''""  ^^'^  ^^^^  '''  ^^«  ^^^alth. 
Dear  me!  isn't  ,t  a  wicked  world  when  decent  people  can't 
turn  m  their  skins  without  somebody  makiu'  a  talk  of  it  >" 

Come  now,  Paul!  none  of  your  jibin' !    It  would  blister 
your  tongue  to  speak  a  good  word  of  any  one,  so  it  would  " 
n  ^-^Tlr  f^^^^^^  ^  «^Jd  of  s^ou,  then,"  Paul  replied,  "'an' 
It  didn't  blister  my  tongue.    An'  there's  Bessy  Conway,  to  go 
no  farther  -I'd  like  to  see  the  man  or  woman  that  ever  heard 


rriK  imsii  girl  ,k  America. 


181 

me  say  an  ill  word  of  her  for  ♦», 

in  my  yowor."  '        '^°  '■*'^^°»  "'^t  ^ho  never  left  it 

"It's  well  she  didn't  "  sni.i  v   j      .. 

Wood  ,0  l,er-y„„M  kj;!    " ,'""  '""»-"""■»  not  a  drop'. 

'Don't  be  botherin'  mn.    t  *  ,i 
don.  „„,,  .„  „  ;"™   ^°'J  ^  '  yo"  !    Miseer  „„b«rt  ha, 

anybody  c,,„-,„L.  MMerV  ^rv  y' '";  "■"  "»""-  ">- 
blacken  him,  Paul ,  b,„  b„  ThT"/-  ^^  "o""  your  b™t  to 
earn.  o„t_y„„.„  ,„„„  ,  ;„,f „*"', '"'":^:»J  y°"'™  p,aj.„d  that 

"  'Ti'i.^,  God  help  ;o,T  Z'    ,  ?  """  '■"  "y  "y-"  ■"• 

"y-.  tl.ou.„  it .,  a  t  r„,  „  ?„'r '''°''!  "-"-■"•OuBtin  your 

-■a'nn  a:,,o.:  Sr         -^  -;;' y»-  -„,„„,.  „,ea  «M 
anybovy."  ^    "'     -^  """^  I  can  see  as  well  as  you 

-nLn^ii::^-;^^  -^-^^  ^.  pa.  witJ 

f^ce.  "if  you  weren't  as  blind  as  aC  °^  "^  ''^  ^^^'s 
you  wouldn't  let  it  into  you.  mh  d  tW  rr  "'  ^""  "^  ^  ^''^^"^ 
tbe  day  you  made  a  sho  v  nJ  .1  "'"'^  ^^^''^^'-t  forgets 

the  Garnck."  "'"  "'  ^^'"^  ^^^°^«  a"  that  was  on  board 

woLtn;'hL'TnIhXt,^^^  --  ^•^^•*  -n't.  I 

^- a^II,  he's  a  rale  gentleman:'!:""^  "^"^^-    ^  ^^"  ^^  -- 

^-3  h^  c W  ::  ^.;!^r  ;":^  ^'f  ^^-^--d  /enow  that 
«oIf.  but  between  you  and  !)         J    '  ^^""^"^«".  Iknowmy- 
that  have.their  eyef^do 'pe""  ':  ^^^  ^        ^^^^'-  ^^°^^ds 
joy  Of  your  friends,  Ned '  C  f  ^''"'r''  '^'''-    ^  ^''^^  you 
you  !"  '  ^"'^-  ^"t  ^or  me,  I'll  wash  my  hands  of 


183 


nKSSY    CONWAV  ;     OR, 


them,  and  thoy  oven  avoided  each  other's  ovf.«  .o  .... 

the  Thud  avenue,  when  the  «ta-,o  stopped  to  take  in  u  nasnen 
«or.  whom  our  fviamh  at  onco  reccH^ni/ed  a«   K    i       n  , 
Nod  .U  next  the  door,  and  in  ..swer  [i;' hi:'  Z^^ ^ 
incr,  the  priest  said  in  a  low  voice  •  ^ 

"  Z'  2^T'  ''"''  ^r^^^"^°-'"  Ncl  repeated  in  surprise; 

^vh7  then,  it's  yourself  will  be  welcome  as  the  flowers  in 
May.  but  I'm  sure  it's  an  honor  we  didn't  expect  All/^  1  " 

There  Was  a  tremor  in  his  voice  that  showed  a  mis'iv  .."of 
ome  kmd.  but  there  were  too  many  eyes  on  him  t     r^  t    per 

t    in'!"         '  y'''''  ''  "  ^"■'"«^'  «-  J-  --  forced  to  re 
stram  his  curiosity  till  he  reached  home 

At  Prince  street,  where  Ned  and  Father  Daly  got  out  Paul 
g     out  too.  as  he  wanted  to  npealc  to  the  prleat  abo"  ;ome 
thing  of  importance,  and  was  thankful  fi  ih. 
thus  afforded  him      Ti,i«  «     7   "i«"^l"I  for  the  opportunity 
for  Ned's  ear  iT  •^^^^^^"^^'0"  was  meant  particularly 

after  'k  .  t.;  ^ ''''^  of  excuse  for  "troubling  his  house-, 
after  what  had  passed  between  them  ' 

Ally  was  all  in  a  flutter  at  the  sight  of  Father  Daly     Drop 
P  ng  her  lowest  curtsy,  she  whispered  to  Ned  to  take  hif  ev 
erence  up  stairs,  and  she'd  be  up  in  a  minute.    Paullud  1  oi 
beprevaued         ,  to  go  up  until  after  the  priest  had  mde 
the  oi,ec   Of  his  visit  known  to  those  whom  it  conee'red'o 
he  took  his  seat  on  the  bench  in  the  corner 

^f^^'^J^'l ""'''  ^'"^''  ^''y'«  ^"'^''^^^^  iJ^'re  that  even.-u.  1 

IX       r    r'"''  '"  ^"'  *^^  •l"^^^'""".  ^°t  he  looked   t  a- a 
th    priest  with  a  kindly  Bmile  hastened  to  satisfy  hi   cuiluy 

Ned  jumped  from  his  seat.     "  My  nht^r  ?n  1-^ 
ence  1    Mary  Murphy,  is  it  1"      ^  "'^t^^"'"-^*^.  your  rerer- 


THE  imsir  r.iRi,  i^  America. 


188 

••I'bwrslster-ln.Jaw.MaryMurpl.j.p. 

Witliout  more  iido  Nod  nullofl  .»,„  ^ 
to  tho  Htair-hoad  called  on    '  a1,       .t"  "'"''  "^"^  ""'^'"« 

"r.ord  bloss  us  wJiafHTn        ^    ,      ^'  '""^"  ^♦^'•«.  Ally!" 
"  1«  tl-  luxiso  a  aIm  '  "'""''  ^    "'^^  ^"^  '^«m  bolo. ; 

In  a  moment  both  husband  an  '  wife  unr.  •     » 
breathless  with  excitement.     "Why  fI  1  n  ?  'I'      '  '■"°"^' 
cau'tb.  true!"  ojaculated  Ally  as  «he  drn       J       " '  '"""^ '^ 
Pantin;.  and  gaspin^r     ..  wu^  1'''  '^'^  ^  '^«PP«^  '"to  a  chair 

-"^^  '-  to  let  us  IcnoC     ihf;    ;^7J^;''  "'^'^  "^^ -- 
ence!"  "  *^^"^  '^«  true,  your  rever- 

,','°"' "'""'«"'<'.  your  rowencel" 

.w?:arr:  [Sir  srs '°  r --- 

auy  such  person  i"  "*®  Mulhgan— do  you  know 

faces  grow  very  red  '''^^  ^'^^'''^  «>'<^«'  ^nd  their 

"Why,  then,  Ned'"  sniM  AiT„         t    , 

the  same  Luke  M  Jli.an  ttt  '  ^W     ''^'"'^''  "^°"'^  ''^  ^ 
at  home  1"  "^         ^  "''^^  ^^  &«  '"oun''  gatherin'  rag, 

"Qod  knows  but  it  is  Allvf    v      i 

"Tlmfs  «h,,t  I  cannot  WiT      .,  h^re,  your  reverence  1" 

-M  very  ,rave,y.    "  m^  otteT^J;".':?,"  •'"  "■\''*-" 

does  for  a  living,  or  whother  h.  /  f        ^^""  '*'^«^  ^'^ 

that  he  dresses  very   howt;'^^^^^  '  ^-"«-  ^^ 

y  sno wilj -sports  nngs,  and  scarf-pins,  and 


184 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


had  thf  c„„j„r:rh  r  pa  ;„i  .Tarr'^'  ''t  ^'^'^^ "  "- 

answered  in  the  affirmative     n.'      ri™"  """'''"""•  »'■» 
with  her,  or  ^hyTZTl.  /;  f  ""'^  ""'>'  ""^  -»' 

complied  with      Yon  ^ro  r,     ''^ ,"'«".  or  were  likely  to  he, 

The  dwarfs  business  with  Father  Daly  wa..  soon  ,?f«n«*.i.   , 
to-morrow  or  ne.t  day,  »„  this  win  save  u,  .he  J„„r„ey     The 

z  zr.:  trrXd^tr '■-  -» -  -  "» 

an"'rs„rs.;hrairet:s':;::trsrr- 


THE    IRISH    GIRL   IN 


AMERICA. 


185 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


news  ho  had  brought  conrn ^Marv     J  V  "^""^  ''  ^^« 
pected  they  were  grieved  heZn.f  '^'  ''  '^^  ^'^^  '^- 

^uspected   Mary  of     a'mW  "T'"'    ^l^ey  had  never 

-"d  even  the  Lol  Z7Z    I  '"''    "nder-har,d    doings. 

itself,  bnt  When  tly'headthotr'  ""  '^'  ^"^^'^  - 
speechless  with  an'er  I'd  aston  ""^''' ^'^^  "^'''^  ^^'•"^k 
would  serve  Brid^ef butl  '  '^  r^"''  ^'  ^'''  "^^hin, 
l^ersolf  and  Peer/ go^  L  ^LT  /?.  '"  "'"^  ^^^^  ^^^ 
^omo  persuasion,  L'ev  r  L  J  /''"^^"  ^^'■^^^-  ^^^- 
to  let  one  of  th;  boys  'o  '^  ZT  ''""'^''^  ^'  ''  '^'^^ 
she  came.  ^   ^"^  "^  ^"^  ^^^''J''  Ally  to  wait  there  till 

"  Oh  !  the  faggot !— the  fa<r^ot '"  crip,l  n.- 1     .    , 
I'ands  in  a  sudden  burst  of 7, '  f  andfn.f     f   ''''^'""  '''' 
t^ke  up  with  a  scape-grace  like  1, 1  ^r    r  "    ''"'  "  ^''  ''  '" 
to  America  !    A  felLv  she  wouldn't      f     '"'"  '''''  ^^°  ^^"^^ 
g'-ac3  all  belongin'  to  her      Oh  ?  "'  "'  ^^^"^«  •'     ^o  dis- 

"one.  m ,: ;':  r  rs' '°  ^'"^^  "■"'" "- "-» '» 

hope  so."  '^°'  "•  P™™'  "-«  loast  I'd  fai„ 


186 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


^av  r°''' -f  "J:  ^'''■'  ^^^^'^  *^^«  "««  «f  talkin'  to  me  that 
^ay  1    sa.d  the  mother  looking  up  through  her  teL     ■'  v  ' 

tation  - 'f  '  '''^;  ^'''^^'''"  ''''  ^^^^y'«  characteristic  exhor- 

But  Bridget's  patience  was  not  put  to  thai  test     ir.,- 
re  urned  breathless  after  ha.f  an  hoL.  abs!:::e       I,  t  e  L:: 

corne^wu,  her  apron  to  he' e'^rLlf    d    ^t'lt 

wtn  rtri'T,  "<"'-- 1  *-"i  .ur?i'r  .'-t  ■ 

neard  Luke  Mulhgan's  name  mentioned.  Och !  och  i  if  it  „»,. 
nnder  boord  she  was  before  me  there  the  ni:ht  itwoul,  1^ 
crush  n,e  half  so  sore !    Oh  Mary !  Mary  i  ifs  t'oo  ;  ^d  1 1 

an-  sir;ru;*p  '"-■'  ^"' "''  ^-  "-'^  '•*«'-■ »"™» 

fJi^"''\°°°"*''  '  ""^  '""'"^  y""."  «»M  Peery,  "that  the 
foolery  she  was  gettin'  on  with  since  she  came  he  e  wouU '! 
turn  out  well.    Didn't  I  now,  Bridget  ^    I  vov   to  r,!l   , 
me  ashamed  many  a  tin,e  to'see  th'e  ai^'sL  "p     !,",  e^^ 

used  to  laugh  at  me,  yourself  and  Mary,  when  I'd  bo  trvin'  to 
put  sense  in  the  colleen's  head."  "  "i'n  to 

..  "^T:.^Z^  '''°"'  "''  Tommy!"  said  Ally  to  her  brother 

"  ilid  the""'  "J  '  .  ""'"  ^'°-  ^'^  ■■-  ""'  <l..»tions        "■ 
I  did,  then,"  sard  the  lad  gI„omily_he  and  his  brother 


>  me  that 
irs;  "  you 
'e  takes  in 
lod  knows 
-'s  marrifMl 


tic  exhor- 
not  make 
you'll  not 

Her  son 

the  news 

was  gone 

)ther  was 
ch  in  the 
ing  as  if 
knew  it 
iiinute  I 
if  it  Wits 
tvouldn't 
id  I  was 
i'  shame 

hat  the 
'ouldn't 
it  made 
er — an' 
an!  my 
ow  you 
i-yin'  to 

rother, 

V 

irother 


THE    IHlSri    GIRL    IS    AMERICA. 


187 

^^he  knew  how  Mary  got  in  with  rf  " '"   "  '  ^^^^'^  '^^^  ''f 
that  it  was  at  one  of^he  17  ^^'  ^"^  '^''  ^«^^  "'«  '  vcs  ^ 

-^  that  she  onyefn  Si",":'"'''  dances  she  met  hin/, 
"-y  made  a  matc'h  of  it     sh       "  '[I  """'  ''  ^"'  °»'  "^^ 
secret  from  us  all  was  because  AfT     ,        ''"'""  "^">'  ^'P^  ^^ 
-     "ev'er  give  your  consent'  "^  ''"'^  ^^'^"  ^"«"S''  ^ou'd 

The  question,  then,  was  "  whaf^  t,.  T,  , 
^"ggestion  her  father  and  Tom^l  ^«  doner  and  at  Ally's 
^^^  to  ,o  With  them  in^^L'TC  '  iV^^^'  '''  ^^  «^^^ 
Ally,  "  unless  I'm  there  to  mind  theh^"  r  '""^  ^'°'"  ^^'^ 
^vith  Peter,  mother  dear-  ronit  t^  .  ?J  ""  ^  "^"'^^  ^^^^^«  >•«" 
^nng  us  back  better  news  ^an  we  '''""  '"^"  ^«  ^''^  '<> 

The  search  was,  for  some  l!  """•" 

hours  were  spent  goinrf^om T;  ""^"^--^'^^J-ndood  some 
without  finding  any  trac:  ome  f     -f-""'''  ^^'"^^  ^'^  ^"^^^er 
«t  St.   Patrick's  and  were  refnf''-     ^^^«>' ^'^^^  -PPh'ed 
tl^ere,  for  the  same  realon  th,M    ^  '^"'"'"'"  '^'  ''''  ^'^^'^^ 
S^-   Joseph's.     He   said  he  t/rd^^f  ^^^^^  ^^^^^-^  Baly  at 
somewhere  before  that  time   as  h.       i  ,'"'      "'"''  '"'^'•'•'^^'^ 
groom  say  on  leaving  hislo^'Tf?''^  ''"'^  "'«  "^'«"d^d 
we'll  go  to  a  minister-that^  In  »         '  "'"^^  ^^^'^^'^  ^^"-y  us 

But.the  next  they  went  tn  ^,\7 
fnd  more  .candatouf  co^  o,  entf  Tf  "T;'  ''''^''■'•^  ""- 
>»  number,  was  just  comi„;  0^:^     ,         *"=  ""''y'  """■ 

whentheptaers^etthematthla:""    '"■"""  ""•  ^""' "»^. 
ihe  scene  that  followed  hnfflna  a      ' . 

"gitatM  question:  " IT  J^^J'"l''''''''''''^'i  Lor  f„„,er., 
-urauce  of  Lu,c,  Mum^au^I e™™^;:;  .  ^:>--«.er,-„, 
J\ed7-r-you  see  we  stnln  o  ,      °  How  are  you 

Whereto  Ned  respondo  L  Jot?!'  ""  ^""'  ^-'^  -"O  me": 
-d  .»r  bridesmaid  seamtra'r:t^r'7  ■"'»■"■  ''-^ 
-«>-o,«,„t,a3.i,„,.t,u.e''ai  '     a       „t:';„^:  "-»  " 


188 


BESSY   CONTVAY;     OR, 


;;  What  the  d 1  do  you  do  that  for  r 

l^acl  gathered  m!^^^:^:' ^:^'-  .  j^^  ^'^^^  ^'•^  1^"^^ 
off  from  Ned.  he  attempt  '  l/l  ''f^'"'^'  '""'^  «hyi„g 
law.  but  Peery  inertTnd  ^  '^'  ^'^'^^^  ^^'«  ^^'h^''-^^- 

Tipperary  bloo'd  r  -"ve  :Td  l"  T^':  "^'"^^'  ^^'^^  "'« 
fered  hand  with  the  contemn;  due  t^'  t"  ,""'  ""  ^^'■''^- 
as  he  styled  L,ikv  ""  '^''^^  °^  ^  ragman," 

"  .in  here,  y„„,,  „„,„';"  anyX  „1  1",'™'  °"  '"''  '"'"  °' 

yo„  r  rw';;,:::!  *'"^^'  -  ^»''  -  -  ■>-» »» poor  u,,^ 

"  '  *°°'''  '"■"•  f"  too  well,  Mary!  an'  I  don't  V. 
came  over  ,j„,-„  what  low  dhron  broke  i>  ■  """' 

-t  her  on  the  .treet  ,  e  wo    d  "t  ^ZT^T"''  '"  '^  "^ 
loo  much   offended  to  11102,  "!  T  ''=''     "'"7  «' 

you  needn't  core  a  rap  (or  aL  If  ,h  "'""'«'  ""^  ' 

-etter  than  «.,  Would'.'r^^^hl'S,"""-''"  ""  '»'  ^- 

-ufd:::  "r::;^tr:™„,Trr7  ^-^  -- "'» 

alwaj-sdo  for  yourself    Zt  »t!       .!         '>'='■  ""'e  way  you 
wenLt-ifyouwe™!';  von  ,,?'*''  '"'"°'  y»»-yon're 

"  Don't  ho  lit  ,  y™  'rf      "o    t  '  """'  .'"'"""'^ '  ' 
-m  Luky  turnin,  ^"Vrt  "tl"'!  'ir;:??,  '""r '" 
sround  that'll  <«»/<..•  j,^,,  any  way  "  Put  tl!.  '  ° 

an'emokoit."  'yi*ay.    Put  that  in  your  pipe 


^t^ 


"  Whafs  that  be  sa«  1"     ■  '  '*" 

««'•»  i',  l.e  may  talk  li    he  Xi'"   '""  "'"  "»"-*'-'«■  i.^ 
„  S"  ""•»  'vaa  the  new,  b  „„„h U     ,'"  '""  "''°  '-"" '  ho .'  ho  •' 
^'-«3  the  ,a,t  the  M  X   ::"\f '''"^' ='"' ^">-  -<< 
^ay  to  eome.   She  made  he  •  ownTM     ^''^'  ''"'  '"""y  »  lon<r 

XTtir-;:;'-"- 

«V"lng,  «s  accosted  by  hf;';5  ""T  """^  "«  „.„„,  ,„  ,„^ 

«ngn.g  the  merriest  of  t„„es    n  vl'     ";'""'■  ""'-  "  "at 

"I  think  Mr.  Herbert  is  ;'  ,!    '^  -""^  '■"•  ?»"''»  «turn. 
M.ke  spreading  o„t  his  C^T.ZT^'  *^'^  ''"^'•■'  -M 
gemal  warmth ;  "i  heard  him  thr.!      ,     "  ^"'^  '°  ^l"^!"  the 
"'"■  "  -='-P  that  he  called  L"keS„ir         "'"'"^  "="''  '-""■»? 

^"^9;:Xr-£?"-^rt::~ 

"  So  Mister  Herbert  4^^. v."  '"''"-^«",  Mike  ?" 
-^<J  not  to  mind  the  con  ou  'ded    T  ''"°"  ''  ^^  ^^U  ahead 
Henry r  says  Mulligan    'jT         '"*•     '^"t,  hang  Ctl  Mastr 

--«v.yshe,-,crsr;:::~--:-:ut 


190 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


mg  to  her,  and  I  think  it  will  pay  a  trifle  of  it  off  to  help 
you  to  make  Mistress  Mulligan  of  Mary  Murphy— ha!  ha!  ha ! 
eh,  Luky  V  •  Well  now,  Master  Ileury  I'  says  the  other  back 
to  him,  "you  needn't  be  makin'  so  Httle  o'  a  fellow  as  all 
t'lat  comes  to-thero's  them  that  carries  a  high  head  that  isn't, 

any  better  than  their  neighbors,  if  the  truth  was  known '  " 

I'  Ha!  an'  what  did  he  say  to  that— Herbert,  I  mane  V 
"  I  guess  he  wasn't  very  well  pleased,  for  he  began  to  bite 
his  hps  till  you'd  think  he'd  bite  them  through,  but  he  took  out 
his  pocket-book  and  gave  Mulligan  some  bills,  and  told  him  to 
go  and  get  married  as  fast  as  ever  he  could,  and  n6ver  to  show 
his  face  to  him  again  till  the  job  was  done." 

When  the  boy  ended  Paul  drew  a  long  breath,  and  then  sat 
silent  for  awhile  looking  into  the  fire,  with  his  hands  resting 
on  h.s  knees.  At  last  he  started  from  his  reverie  and  looking 
round  smiled  at  Mike  in  his  strange  way.  «  He's  runnin'  his 
ng,  sure  enough,"  said  he.  and  ho  nodded  at  Mike  as  if  Mike 
knew^all  about  it.    "Maybe  his  tether  is  long  enough-eh, 

Mike  had  no  opinion  to  offer,  but  he  looked  so  wise  and 
so  cute  that  Paul  was  sure  he  could  speak,  if  he  wished 
He  nodded  at  Mike  accordingly,  and  Mike  nodded  at  him 
and  so  the  matter  ended  for  that  time,  and  Paul  told  Mrs' 
Sheehan  to  stir  herself  and  get  the  tea  till  Mike  got  a  cup  to 
warm  him  before  he  went.    The  interval  was  employed  by 
Paul  m  a  cursory  examination  of  Mike  in  the  Christian  Doc- 
trine.    The  result  was  highly  satisfactory,  and  Paul  rubbed  his 
hands  and  smiled  gleefully,  and  thought  how  glad  Nancy 
Leary  would  be  if  that  lamented  individual  were  still  in  the 
flesh  to  take  cognizance    of   her  adopted   son's    scholastic 
attainments. 

"  Bedad.  Mike,  if  you  go  on  so,"  said  Paul.  "  you'll  soon 
know  as  much  as  I  do  myself,  an'  more,  too,  mavbe-then 
you'll  leave  off  sellin'  papers.  Mike,  and  you'll  go  tr,     trade 
or  some  business,  and  then  you'll  got  on  from  less  to  more  till 


riiE  inisn  omr,  w  America. 


191 

you.,  „»-„,,  dear  „,e,  I  don't  *„„„  „„,.  ,,,  ^,^,   ^^^ 

The  u'^vtVv,,.        I:'  ""''''  ^^^"^'^'  ^^-^^  ^«ke  your  tea." 

30  till  she'd  see  how  it  wa       Sho  J       ,  ?r'  T  ''''  '"  '""  °^- 
with  Ally  the  two  If  !h  ''"'^  ^^'''  ^^"'P^^'  "P  «t-'^i>'s 

t^o.waii;:;:;i:^tr^:^;-:--e^^^^^^ 

renewed  their  .^rief  and  n..J  f  "'-'^'^  "^^  ^^^^^^ 

"t-"  to'iei,  ana  Uessy  saw  at  a  o-lanrp  fhnf  ♦!, 
was  only  too  true  a'ance  that  the  news  ■ 

"  '"<'<'=<•  I  ^M,"  Bessy  replied,  ■■  but  I  couldn't,  I-,  u  • 
me  at  .11  that  there  was  any  truti  in  it.    I  dec tl  y-  v  ™ 

■•Her  HZ'""  •" ''"'''  ''-">  "'  "^  ~"  " 

Her  death  !■    repeated  Aiiy  in  high  disdain,  "  her  death  • 

otr  ha'tThyr  tt  tr  ""'  '~"'""''  ^ -'^  "'°"  "« 
gettiu.  .econli,  d  t™!  t-bul:' r r  "^^  ""■  '™'''  ^^ 

M  well  as  any  of  ua  the Vw        ,   v     "''  ^"''^ '  '■""  '"">'' 
o  «ii;  ui  u8  tiie  shame  and  d  strrace  oh^  ha..  !...„     x . 

on  us  all-what  we'll  nejer  cet  ojf  bnaghl 

Growing  her  black  apron  over  her  rca'An'T^r""' '"  """ 
ioto  a  hysterical  flt  of'crying  a:;d  1^/"'  "^'^  ""'  '■«^'" 

-,  -couldn't  wear  Z"  sorrrLt  T       r^^ra:: 


192 


BESSY 


CONWAY ; 


OR, 


Luky  Mulligan  the  ragman!  a  fellow  that  at  home  rlarn't  look 
the  side  of  the  road  Mary  Murphy  would  walk .— ocli !  och  ' 
if  he  was  honest  or  dacont,  or  had  a  good  name,  sure  rags  an' 
all,  tliey'd  try  to  make  the  best  of  it,  but  the  greatest  s°camp 
in  tlie  sevon  paviyhos-an'  comin'  from  a  bad  breed  into  the 
harf,'ain— arrah  Bessy  Conway!  what'll  wo  do,  at  all  ?— what'U 
the  neighbors  say  at  home  when  they  hear  it  ?— God  help  us  ! 
what  m?i  they  say  V 

"But,  my  goodness,  Mrs.  Murphy!"  said  Bessy  earnestly, 
"  how  in  the  world  did  Mary  fall  in  with  him,  of  all  people?"  ' 
"At  the  dances  dear!"  the  mother  replied  with  angry 
emphasis,  "at  them  rascally  shin-digs,  if  its  that  they  call 
them— I'm  thinkin'  it's  dcvil-dign  they  our/ht  to  call  them,  in 
place  of  5/uVdig3.  Oh  Bessy!  achorra  machreo!  if  Uy 
unlucky  villain  had  only  kept  away  from  such  places,  as  you 
and  eve  y  other  sensible  girl  does,  it  isn't  this  way  it  would  be 
with  us  now.  My  curse  an'  the  curse  of  God  be  about  them 
for  dances,  for  it's  them  that  has  left  me  a  heart-broken  poor 
woman  this  blessed  night !" 

"  If  curses  would  put  a  stop  to  gatherings  like  them,  mo- 
ther," said  Ally,  "  there  wouldn't  be  many  of  them  goin'  on, 
for  there's  many  a  mother  an'  father,  too,  gets  heavier  sorrow 
and  disgrace  by  them  than  yor.ve  got— and  ifs  bad  enough, 
God  knows  !  Oh  the  villain  of  the  world  !  couldn't  she  have 
dancin'  enough  here  with  ourselves  where  there  was  no 
fitrangers—but  that  wasn't  low  enough— we  hadn't  any  Luke 
Mulligans  here !    Well !  well !  God  look  on  ns  all,  anyway !" 

Bessy  was  just  thinking  what  she  could  say  by  way  of  con- 
soling her  friends,  when  a  tap  came  to  the  door,  and  in  answer 
to  Ally's  "Come  in!"  Henry  Herbert  made  his  appearance. 
There  was  a  flush  on  his  cheek  that  was  not  natural,  and  a 
glassy  look  in  his  eyes  that  Bessy,  at  least,  had  never  seen 
there  before,  and  she  shrank  back  in  alarm  she  could  hardly 
have  told  why. 

Herbert  did  not  notice  her  at  first  but  addressed  himself  at 
once  to  Mrs.  Finigan. 


THE    iRIsn    GIRL    IN-    A„,„,,^^ 


193 

•vou-S  z:tz  r','?""' "™-  ^'"'--.  »•""■' 

»ad  sort  of  fcl|„,v_i  j,„„,  "  „  "  ■         ^^  ""'"«""  i-'  ""'  " 
''"Iping  11,0  groom  of  an  oil  r" ''"'''"'  °"""""o-door, 

made  bold  to  tin,  l,i,  ,'„         '° '"''>*  I'»»l»rior  «I,c„  l,e 
took  to  the  ralr™     ,',;""  "^l  T'    '"'^' ™=  >"''<"■<'  "« 
tl.at  maudlin  slo'e'whco  oT^in  o,:^'!.^;"  '"  ''■"'""«' '""" 
BHiIfJot  found  it  hard  (o  "       ?  ""^  ""■'''akon. 

>-  .'o«.„  a  p.,,  f:r^l,er'«'::Lwr  •'■/.""' '™'""  """ 
coupled  with  I,is  words  shouorl  T  »  '  '"°°'""'  "»'. 

>>«  fncdij-.    She  iook'd  „,  ;  K.    V"    .         '°  '°  "'"""'^ 

-  didu.t,  a„.  it'^onV  ,e,'  Tf  rau™".™?"'' '°  '""''  ^"" 
must  think  verylittie'^,  Nea    ,,  thV,!V°f      ''"""  """■    ^™ 

Mi.t::r;edi  It  rt:th'"°'*^-  """■  ™^«". 

r-e„ce.  I  thought  to  /er  "/o  ."^.rhrerT/^^  ""^ '"'"- 
reconciliation,  which,  of  course  ,v„,tu  1,^„  r  '"^  ■''  S™""-"' 
e»t,  seeing  that  honest  luky  Tin  Z  r,  ,  '  '■°"''  °""  '"""■- 
saufTup  your  noses  till  you  snf,.^,""'  '"""'X  »»'',  and  if  y„„ 
of  it."  ""  '°'*  *"»■  off.  it  won't  put  him  out 

over,  "I'd  thank  youtotll''"'."  '"  ™  »"<""  l-'ilfag 

Oearingl    Ifs  n^c^doyo^rftrtf '.""';!  "'"'"' ''"  ™' 
to  say  to  such  vagabonds--!."  °°  '°  '■"'=  »">•'";« 


lot 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"  Take  care.  Mistress  Finigan  !  take  care!  if  you  throw  dirt 
on  your  respectable  brother-iii-law  some  of  it  will  fall  on  your- 
self.     Ee  wise  in  time,  ma'am ." 

"Take  care  yo«,  Master  Henry  Herbert!"  said  Mrs.  Mur- 
phy, provoked  beyond  endurance,  and.  rising  slowly  from  her 

rke';;:;  ;  '°'"""  "'^  -^--^-^  young  man  with  a  look 
like  that  of  an  ancient  Pythoness  when  about  to  deliver  the 
oracular  dec.lon:  "Take  care  you.  an' don't  make  Bridget 
Murphy  speak.  We  kno.  you^^-^n^l  she  raised  the  fore-flnfer 
of  her  right  hand  with  a  warning  gesture-"  we  know  yoursdf 
an^  your  fatker,  too-a:,  you'd  best  keep  a  civil  ton'ue  1 
your  head  when  ...'re  to  the  fore.  Do  yon  mind  wh^rr  n 
sayin'  to  you.  now  ?"  ^  ^^ 

Herbert  was  awed  in  spite  of  himselt  by  the  old  woman's 
solemnity,  and  his  bold  eye  fell  before  the  Lry  look  th  ^Ihe 
fixed  upon  him.  He  muttered  something  about  minding  his 
ou;a  business  for  the  time  to  come,  and  was  turning  away  to 
leave   he  room  when  he  caught  sight  of  Bessy  whe.;  she  had 

Luky  Mun.gan,  he  went  up  to  her  and  made  to  take  her  hancJ. 

Why,  Bessy,  are  you  here  ?-how  did  I  happen  to  o-.r Jook 

the  blooming  rose  of  Ardfinnan  ?_what!    you  wonV  «h,>e 

hands  with  me  r'  vvwu  .  bpay.e 

J7^  ^'  *'!'"^'?  ^"^  ^'"'^  ""*  ^^  '"^^^  «o  f»-«o.  Mr.  H..Dert  r 
said  Bessy,  her  cheek  crimson  with  anger 

wav  «!.f  'r  ■'  ''';\S«°^'"  ^"d  "-l^-^fc  laughed  i.  a  scoffin 
way  that  annoyed  Bessy  still  more;  "  little  Bessy  putting  ou 

won  t  you  give  me  your  hand  ?" 

'•■  Jfo,  sir,  /  u^ai  notr  said  Bessy  with  becoming  spirit:  "1 
don  t  want  anything  at  all  to  do  with  you  >" 
"  You  don't,  eh  1"    In  an  incredulous  tone 
''No.  I  don't,  sir!"  said  Bessy  with  unml.cakeable  sincerity 
believe  my  word,  I  don't!"     And  tuning  away  coldly  bL' 
asked  Mrs.  Finigan  if  she  was  goin^  down  stairs.  ^ 


'  you  throw  dirt 
ill  fall  on  your- 

saicl  Mrs.  Mur- 

lowly  from  her 

lan  with  a  look 

to  fleliver  the 

make  Bridget 

the  fore-flnger 

know  yourself 

!ivil  tongue  in 

nind  what  I'm 

10  old  woman's 
^  look  that  she 
lit  minding  his 
rning  away  to 
ivhore  she  had 
tting  all  about 
ako  her  hand, 
sn  to  o-crJook 
won't  sha>:e 

Ir.  H'yiDert ''* 

I  it;  a  Ecoffiii 
sy  putting  ou 
1  my  honor* 

i:5  8jiirit;  "1 


>le  sincerity ; 
r  coldly  Bh« 


THB   iRIsn   GIRL   IX   ^,,,,j,^^ 


Yes    All  '  ^^5 

"-vas  both  «'iev;d\;H,:  ,":  7^  T' '  ^--^  '-/^ 

Jeavo  you  here  after  us  "  ^°"''^"^  ^^  »"annorJy  to 

''«'^Txt?r::7-^--ongen.rtto3 

^y;"te."  ^'^•'l  ^o  «<-iy,   if   you'll  stop  one 

'  Not  one  word  I'M  h 
-usual  vehemence,  and  sT'  !^[J^Ta''i  ""*'  ^^^^^>'  ^'^^ 
o  escape  the  very  sound  of  hi  1 !"."!:  ^'^^  ^  '^  -^-'o.. 

at  all  to  do  with  you  !■•    And  befor.\    ^  ^""  ^'°"  ^'^^  nothing 
thor  eCbrt  to  detain  h«r  sh    tn.?  '""^'^  '"'-^^^  '-^"y  ^ur^ 

^fy  "  good  night"  a,s  t:  ZrTr    ^'^^^'""  ^^d  a 
~an.  between  her^Ii/r?,^^^^ 

«»-  stepped  lighirabn.' PH,?'/"'"''  "'^^  «^«  '^  ^-elf  as 
the  Dowery.  ■<  .,,/en  "s%!    Hj  ITl  '"•  ^^'«  ^^«  -"'^H.  " 
will  it  be  hereafter  1"    ThankL^  ,  f  ''''^  ^"''"  ««  «««",  how 
to  see  him .-  ^^^'"^  ^''^  •'  ^^^  •'  thank  God  I  happened 

"That  little  cousin  of  yours  ho«  „ 
camo  to  New  Fork,"  said  He  Jt  to  17;":^  '^"^^  «''"^«  ^^^- 
familiarity  of  their  present  int'l.      ^^^  ^^"'^an  with  the  easy 
on  a  seat  behind  the  ba,       ^°'^'^°"''«^'  •'^"J  he  threw  himae^f 

Ned  was  a  h'ttle  surnrised  of  «    .  , 
and  a  glance  at  RerLt  tTl^:]'- '  T"""^'^  ^^«-^-n 
the  matter  stood,  and  he  lau.l  ed  L  b-""   '  ""'"^^^"^^  ^^^^ 
good-humoredly :  "^^  '"  ^^^  sleeve  as  he  replied 

"I'm  afraid.  Mister  Herbert  v      x^    , 
a^  well  as  Bessy."  ''*'  ^^"'  ^  "''J^  ^Poils  many  a  ono 

"That's   true"  •'ni^  tt    i. 

"P  otauo,   who 


196 


BESSY    CONfWAY  ;     OR, 


havo  heen  ratfng  me  like  a  pair  of  troopers — only  the  rejjarr! 
I  have  for  yourscii",  Ned,  I'd  swear  against  over  crossing  ycur 
thresl)')ld  again." 

"Hut,  tut,  Mr.  Herbert!  Haid  Ned  evasively,  "you  havo 
more  sense  than  to  mind  what  the  lilies  of  them  say.  I  sup- 
pose it's  makin'  fun  they  were,  an'  yoit  took  it  iu  earnest — 
that's  all !" 

"It  may  be  so,  Ned,  it  may  be  so!  Holla!  Dixon!  is  that 
you,  old  fellow  1"  And  starting  up  he  hurried  to  the  door, 
where  he  had  cauglit  a  glimpse  of  his  worthy  companion  mak- 
ing signs  for  him  to  go  out. 

When  Bossy  reached  home  that  evening,  sorely  troubled  in 
inin'1,  she  found  Fanny  with  a  most  ungracious  aspect,  sewing 
I«  the  kitchen. 

"  What  kept  you  1"  she  said  in  answer  to  Bessy's  salutation. 
"  I  wonder  at  you  to  stay  out  so  late." 

"  Why,  it's  only  a  quarter  past  nine,"  said  Bessy  as  cheer- 
fully as  she  could ;  "  you  don't  call  that  late,  do  you  1" 

"It's  late  enough,  and  ton  late  for  a  respectable  female 
to  be  out  alone.  What  do  you  think  Mrs.  Hibbard's  been 
a-doing  V 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know,"  said  Bessy,  taking  oft*  her  bonnet 
and  shawl. 

"  Why,  she's  bin  and  given  mo  a  lable-cloth  lo  hem,  and  1 
hurrying  so  with  my  own  dres?." 

"  Well !  what  of  that  ?  haven't  you  drosses  enough  for 
Sunday  r' 

"  I  kMo\^  I  hav(,"  Fanny  replied  with  increasing  petnl.irco, 
"but  that  an't  any  reason  why  Mrs.  Ilibbard  t.'  ■>  .!<1  usU  mo 
to  do  any  sewing  for  het,     I  U'll  you  ii  an't  righi..'' 

"  What  did  you  say  to  Afrs.  Ililibard  when  si..  .i.->i><sQ  you  to 
do  it  r' 

"Well !  I  just  told  her  llial  I  dldti'i  engage  to  do  sewini;  for 
*\'r,  ar.d  didn't  want  to  do  it.  I  said  llinl  !  didn't  wi-sh  to  re- 
ii.  •   {"  f.  that  I'd  rather  not  do  anv  more.    She  said  I  had  a 


THE    IRISH    G7Rr,   IN   AMERICA. 


197 


rJcht  to  do  it  as  it  was  f  -  tl.e  sorvant'8  fable,  but  I  said  says 
i,  that  don't  make  any  diflbref,c>e,  Mrs.  Hihbard'  it  anU  my 
busines.s  a„d  I  «lmn't  do  it !  I  k„  nv  my  duty  and  I'm  willing 
to  (io  what's  right,  but  nothing  more!" 

Panny  always  ciuinciatod  her  M'ords  meet  distirjrtly,  bring- 
lug  out  every  syllable  with  marked  emphasis.  Everything  .he 
«aM,  therefore,  was  spoken  in  a  deci.led  and  nomewhat  dicta- 
tonal  tone  that  was  anything  but  agreeable  to  the  ear  and 
did  not  at  all  comport  with  the  Christian  humility  so  'ccii- 
stantly  professed  by  Fanny. 

"  Another  thing  I  told  Mrs.  Ilibbard,"  she  went  on,  "  that  I 
shan't  wash  any  more  for  that  old  nigger.  I  an't  accu,  tomod 
to  do  such  washing,  and  I'm  .letermined  not  to  do  it  " 

"Well,   but,  Fanny!"  said  Bessy,  in  her  most  persi.asive 

one,     poor  Wash  has  always  had  his  washing  done  in  the 

l.ouso,  and  cross  as  Bridget  was  I  never  lieard  her  object  to  it." 

^^      I  don  t  care  what  any  one  objects  to,"  said  Fanny  IcftHv 

Nobody  can  teach  mc  what  is  right  or  what  is  wrong-thai.k 

God    I  know  my  duty,  and  I'm  willing  to  do  it  at  all  time., 

Til'        ^  '""'^'  ^"^  ''''^'  ^*''  "''''  "^'^  ^"'■^''>''  ^'"^  ^  ^^'"'''^ 

Bessy  smiled.    She  was  just  thinking:   "There  it  is  over 

aga.n,    but  she  took  c,  re  to  keep  her  thoughts  to  herself, 

X:/".'/I''  "'  '''  '''  '""••' ^  "'''  '"''^'''"'  -^^^ 

''  Cut  dnn't  you  know  it's  a  charity,  even,  to  wash  the  poor 
old  man  s  clothes  7  He  has  no  one  to  do  it  for  him,  and  he 
couldn  t  very  well  afTord  to  be  paying  out  for  it  " 

"Dear  me  I    but  we're  charitable  !"   said  Fanny  with  a  to.s 

afraul  but  I  m  donig  my  share  of  it.  A  girl  that  pays  to  threo 
or  four  Confraternities  out  of  her  month's  wages  is  surely  not 
behmd  others  in  charity." 


198 


BESSY    COXWAY  ;     OR, 


"Well!  that's  true  enough,  Fanny,"  said  Bessy  feelingly; 
"  I  know  it's  a  good  deal  for  you  to  do,  and  I  hope  God  will 
reward  you  and  every  one  else  that  helps  to  keep  up  the  Con- 
fraternitiea,  for,  sure  we  all  know  what  good  they  do,— but 
still  my  notion  is,  that  it's  just  as  rauch  charity  to  do  our  old 
man's  washing,  and  help  to  keep  him  clean  and  comfortable. 
Even  if  Mrs.  Hibbard  wishes  it  done,  I  think  one  will  have 
their  reward  for  doing  it,  as  thqy  would  for  any  other  act  of 
charity,  if  they  only  do  it  with  good  will." 

"  That  may  be  your  notion,  but  it  an't  mine,"  Fanny  re- 
plied  in  her  authoritative  way ;  "  I'd  rather  do  charity  in  some 
other  way  than  washing  for  that  old  Wash." 

"  Oh !  very  well !"  said  Bessy,  as  she  left  the  kitchen  j  "you 
can  settle  that  with  Mrs.  Hibbard." 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   LV   AMERICA. 


199 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Mrs,  Hibbard  and  Fannv  van-tod  nn  th^        i.- 

her  down  a  little,  but  not  for  her  smviLll  T  ^^'^ 

under  .„y  g.ven  circumsmncca,  was  .  „„4  and,  n,„re  var  a 
rrftjioKs  impossibility.     Quite  so    P,n„„  ,i        ™°™'>™'^.  "• 

course,  What  Fanny  tho„,M  It  La  r™f  """'''"'  """'  °' 

^.yestin,  .,,0  idea  orv:t:xvis:^;Li:- 

and  more  pungent  Miarpor 


200 


BES3V   CONWAV;     OK, 


.op=  you  J    get  a  bettor  companion  than  I  was-anrt-Mra 
II.bba,.d  a  bettor  .orvant!"  „„iob  intorproted  meant  "  I  „„„"' 
5  o„  won't,  tb„„gb  !■■    She  migl.t  have  been  flahing  for  a  cm 
phment,  too,  bnt  if  .o  she  wa,  disappointed,  for  lie,,,-    "d 
ad  e,  ongb  of  her  empty  piety,  and  was  well  content  to  got 
11(1  of  lier  eternal  self-laudation. 

Fanny's  place  was  filled  next  day  by  a  little  meny-facod 
dun,py  woman  somewhove  in  the  neighborhood  of  forty     Her 
name  was  Onny  Quigley,  and  she  came  to  the  house' recom 
mended  by  no  loss  a  person   than  Paul  Brannigan    whoTe 
cousin  she  was.  'b^",  "nose 

Bol^y"'^^^^^^^  of  my  own,"  said  Paul  to 

15oss> ,  I  m  not  a  bit  afeard  to  speak  for  her.  She  has  been 
^n  a  very  good  place  for  four  or  five  years,  and  I  know  her 
mistress  wouldn't  part  her  now.  only  she's  b;eakin'  "s 
and  gon.'  away  to  foreign  part..  I  have  that  from  the  ady's 
own  hps,  and  she  said,  by  the  same  token,  that  Onny  was 
worth  her  weight  in  gold,  and  she  didn't  brieve  there  as 
such  another  little  woman  in  New  York  city  " 

Bessv  lanLr ''  T''"'''  ''''''''  ""^  ^''^S  beyond  that,"  said 

1-  J    .        ,  aoiry.    i^iLtie  fat  Onny  was  the  best  nnH 

kindest  and  most  considerate  of  fellow-servant     Z  . 

faithful  and  efllcient  of  '<  help."    She  m   l^Ctic    ar  dT 

sf  dxv       H  rr?  '"''  ''  '^^^^  '^^"'  ^^'"'  -  ^^hine.  every 
Sunday  and  holy-day.  and  somehow  little  Onny  neve    com 
Plainod  of  want  of  time,  or  found  it  hard  to  get  out  in  the 
mornmg.    In  fact  she  was  never  in  "n  fn«« -.       '"'^'J"  "»« 
wm,  anything,  and  many  a  tn^^hTwa:  I     ■.odoTr  W 

rr      ,^!\^""y  ™»  "'""J-'  in  good  humor,  her  round  ro,v 
ftco  as  bnght  as  the  full  moon,  and  her  large  white  teeth!! 


-and — Mrs. 


THi^  mmi  ami  m  America. 


—  201 

'Offe  of  blood  and  1„,T"'  „  """''  '"  ""y.  "i«>  the  nrivi- 

,"»'.".rt  «.e  door  j:Tirr:r""' "'"  "^ """  «■•"'« 

cover."  '"""'""  '"""'"'4  take  tl,o  book  by  the 

"y  a'.y  chance,  talked  of"vhaU,  7,™  "°  '''""""•'  """  '"^""^ 
pcfoctions  in  any  way.  If  M  ,  ,„m  ",■  7  ''^""''"'  '""■  °»" 
fault  with  anj^thing  ^ife  did  and  i,  ^h  "'"'  ""''"'""'  ">  """ 
Onny  was  neither  hurt  nor  „o«iW  "'  ""'  "^"'™  -"■"="«'. 

»e,youk„„w,„n,;t„;        "'  °"r-;  ';■•'•-"  the  same  t^ 
»"  t"M  again  how  that  part  c„hr  M  •        "  """^  '""'  ""^  '<> 

'  "ow  is  it,"  Mid  Bes.v  ,„  1  '^  ™"  "> '"'  "<>'«■ 

you  are  a.way,,  content  wit  .,Zr"v"'""'  «  "'■  0""^'  that 
"  Wliy,  child  "  I«„„k  "'"""'"<"'<"■  happens  V 

to  ,,lease  „yse,f_it  fJZZTll^''"'  ""''  ^"»  "  ""'^ 
whatever  way  they  want  it  LZLl^T'  '"'  ""'■™' »" 
Qu'gley.    One  mistress  wants  a  Ihil  \  '"""'  '»  Onny 

»i«tre,s  wants  it«^,  y,aTZT'  """V"'' "y,  another 
">ora  all,  if  I  can.  EveTl/r  d  ,  . ' '  ""^  ''"''"«»  to  please 
"  for  Ood's  sake,  Bes,;  "r  Lten  M  '\""  ""''  ^""o  ''I  <>• 
jome  to  know  all  about  relicom  "'"''  >■""  «'^'  '*« 

always  feel  as  if  I  was  s  r'v r/oodT'  r"'"  """  "^'  ■"" 
Ho  sets  over  me  for  the  tine^uZ'  """'""  "'™' 

zz '  '""■  ""■'.  "o  >-°u  k„  w,  Csy  :"  "'"^^ "'  "■"» »« 

hard  words  since  Pve  been  at  s^rvi^e  "  "■■  «"'  ''  ""^^ 

'  "olieve  you,  Onnyi"  ^ni,l  n   ' 

you  wouldn't  Please,  .n-  r  ^i  T\l         '"''^  '''''^''''  ^^at 
-  •  -   ■  tell  y,n,  there's  fe^y  of  them  that 


202 


BESSY    C0N1VAY;     OR, 


U'on  t  bo  pleased  if  a  girl  lays  herself  out  to  do  it.      Let 

airf,;*"'"  T'"/'?^  ^l-y-ay.thoyknov  the  value  of  a 
fa,th  ,.1  «ood  sn  Mhon  they  meet  her.  To  tell  the  truth 
"ores  so  n.any  bad  ones  going  that  it  makes  people  u  - 
p.c,ous  about  thenUill  they  try  them  and  see  what,  hftln  " 
True  for  you,  Bessy  !'>  said  Onny,  "  there's  a  great  deal  in 
the  g,r  s  own  hands,  and  I  think  there's  n.any  a  ^ne  of  them 
would  be  better  off"  than  they  are  if  they'd  only  pay  "0" 

mistress      Well !  I  declare  talk  passes  timo-doesn't  it,  Bessy  1 
I  neve,.  fou„,i  „,y,,if  ^oing  that  job,  and  now  it's  fmished."     ' 

gra^'so'k  to  ;T'i "';;''";'•' '^'''"  theHght-itwas  an  old 
grav  sock  to  which  Oimy  had  been  adding  a  new  foot  now 

;ust  completed.  "The  mistress  wouldn't  b  lieve  n  e  '  1  vl 
It  done  to-night-what'll  she  say  now."  And  Onny  an !L 
with  the  light-hearted  gaity  of  fifteen.  ^»»'»ea 

Bessy  in  the  same  strain  expressed  her  admiration  ;  "  and 
maybe  A\'ash  won't  be  pleased  when  he  finds  his  old  socks 
changed  mto  new  ones  !-God  give  you  the  worth  of  it.  Onny  r 
She  spoke  with  feeling,  for  she  was  thinking  of  her  p  ous  and 
charitable  friend  Fanny,  who  thought  it  so  far  bone  th "er  to 
do  anything  for  "  the  old  nigger." 

If  Bessy  had  been  more  cTnversant  with  book-learnin^  she 
m^h  probably  have  said  to  herself:  "The  Athenians  W 
^hat  IS  good,  but  the  Lacedemonians  practise  it."  But  Bessy 
had  no  need  to  go  to  classic  lore  for  a  simile,  she  had  one  o 
her  hand  ,n  the  Gospel  narrative,  and  as  she  sit  with  her  ey  s 
fixec  on  Onny's  beaming  face,  she  murmured  half  aloud 
Isn  t  Fannys.  p,ety  like  that  of  the  proud  Pharisee  that  the 
pnes  so  Often  tells  us  about.    Turning  up  her  nose       ev    y 

isn  t  Ike'^f  "  T'  r  '""^'  ^"'^  *^^^^""»  ««^  "^'^t  she 
in  t  hke  them     Now  here's  poor  Onny  that  scarce  knows  B 

from  a  bull's  foot  and  never  praises  herself  at  all,  and  still  she 

does  twice  as  much  good  as  Fanny.    She  always  seem      0  do 

the  very  thin,  that's  best  to  be  done,  and  everythinVgot 


T"K    IRISH    GIRL    IN    AMKRICA. 


203 

'»  ^^"Iclou,  or  never  "„u,'l,ll    "/  ""  '"""  ""'"''"""  '""* 
family.     TI,e  „e„-,  ,ck^  ™  ,  ,^f """  ,"?  «•"■'""  '^"■<^'-'  of  Ih. 

VI-.1  ..er  l„  ,.,U         rL'    ,     ""  ,"°'"'°'''  "■'•  "-^-"-  ad- 
«II  so™  thing  tamed    n  thi     I  ""'  "''■""■"«  of  doing, 

""t  and  drink,  and  pay  tl.e  la^d  ' rd  "'"  "'  """"Sh  «» 

wrote  Denis  Co„wav"f„,,^f'         "'''  """  content," 
«l>aro,  a,  y„„  k„„  v  '    „  ^  .ri"  "'     "  ""  ""''  """  »  "'«»  'o 

«.in.  in  «,„  „,.„,o «:;;  t;."  -T;:  iirr;;'  -'t  ^°^  -^- 

>va«  a  comfort  to  „s  all  til  .!,„  ,„      ■.  '""  '"""''  «"" 

1>'"1'  l.or  fortune  bojond  ,  „  °  ,  "  ''"  '"""'."'  «°  «"<» 
>one.on.e.  Ood  .ra?:;l:'r;:C  ^e  i, '"' ^'■''  '^"  "^  »" 
wo  rue  your  going  every  dxv  ",  "°  "•  "'^^^J' "'"ore !  but 
Y»,"-'  "o  matter,  -G^l'.Z'JlTJ  "°"  "'  ""^  "-• 
she's  down-hearted  about  you'  "„''""■»•'""■  '"oilier  „ hen 
IIo'll  take  care  of  Bessy    Z  "  *=""''■'  ""^'^  '.  '"nd 

-mo  day  When  weVo  Ln^ed  of  T'  r"  ^''"''  ""  ''-•'  '°  "» 
the  floor  to  us,  Polly  ,  ,",":,    "'  '°'°f'"'-    S''o'lI  como  in  „„ 

dun,  so  .eaveit^;"^„  it  :„:::.:'"", "",  '"'•■' """  -" 

"nnss  will  turn  „„,,    stil  i  "in,        '    ""''  ''""'"  "="  '""' 
persuaded  not  to  fret     For  „  .■  ^     ^''""  I'""'  mother 

was  hardly  fl,  for  anything  the  vav*"^  """'  ""'  ""■"■  ^'■'' 
she  used  to  beep  watchin:,'  wit  chin,  th     T""  "'"  '"""'■  ^"" 
to  be  coming  hack  to  her     Of   »,»:   ,°°.' '' ''*'''"  "''"''' 
'i"lo  be„er  reconciled,  a,  d  „^'      :' f."'^  "osinni„.  t„  he  a 
you  again  she's  content  to  w!  V  ^   ,,     "  "'"^  ''"''  '»  «« 
followed  a  long  accou^  o    aH     „  J     .      '""'^  """'■"    '"'<"' 
from  all  the  nei.hbo,"   av '  f"  '■" V™"'' ''"^"■'''  "'"'  "'ossages 
well,  thanks  be"  to  «;,?  for  ^  T.'  T^'-    '""'  """«»  "-o 

As  for  the  Murphys,  De'i.l     Z" th^VLv"":;'™""  ^"'^^ 

„iii  mcj  a  have  beeu  as  well 


204 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;    OR, 


at  home,  "  and  that's  my  word  comhig  true,"  said  ho,  "  for  I 
often  told  Peery  he  had  best  let  well  enough  alone,  and  stay  at 
home  as  long  as  he  could  Jive  at  home.  Sure  the  world  IcnoT^s 
that  all  that  goes  to  America  can't  do  Avell— they're  not  all  of 
the  right  stufi'  for  doin'  well  anywhere,  and  for  one  that  has 
good  luck  and  good  guiding  half  a  dozen  has  not.  There's 
thousands  of  people  goes  out  to  America  every  year  that  are 
not  fit  to  make  a  decent  living  at  home  or  abroad,  and  myself 
thinks  that  the  like  of  them  have  a  worse  chance  abroad  than 
they'd  have  at  home.  I  suppose  that's  what  leaves  so  many 
of  them  the  poor  creatures  you  say  they  are  in  America." 

"  So  I  tliink  that's  all  I  have  to  say,"  continued  Denis, 
"  only  I  was  near  forgettin'  to  ask  you  what's  the  meanin'  of  all 
this  talk  about  you  and  young  Herbert '?    Only  we  know  you 
have  the  grace  of  God  about  you  we'd  be  afeard  that  there 
might  be  truth  in  it,  for  it  would  be  a  great  temptation  to  most 
girls  of  your  age  to  have  the  landlord's  son  looking  after  thejn. 
But  you  know  well  enough,  Bessy,  that  it  isn't  for  a  good 
end  he'd  be  talkin'  to  you,  and  you  know  the  dirty  drop  that's 
in  him,  and  so  your  mother  and  mo  doesn't  feel  a  bit  uneasy, 
because  we  know  you  have  the  fear  of  God  before  your  eyes, 
and  that  the  Holy  Mother  of  God  can  protect  you  in  America 
as  well  as  at  home,  and  will  never  let  you  open  your  ears  or 
your  heart  to  a  scape-grace  like  young  Herbert  that's  only 
makin'  game  of  you,  maybe,  or  followin'  you  for  his  own  bad 
ends.     Let  no  one  see  you  in  his  company  late  or  early,  and  if 
you  meet  him  on  the  street  don't  stop  to  bid  him  the  time  of 
day.     That's  your  mother's  advice  and  mine,  and  we  know 
you'll  not  go  beyond  what  we  say.    You  never  did,  and  you'll 
not  do  it  now." 

"God  in  Heaven  forbid!"  was  Bessy's  fervent  ejaculation, 
as  she  kissed  the  letter  again  and  again,  and  then  folding  it 
carefully  placed  it  in  her  bosom  as  the  dearest  thing  she  had 
on  earth.  "  That  would  be  the  black  day  for  me  when  I  dis- 
obeyed the  best  of  fathers  and  mothers  !     Oh  no  !  if  I  thouirht 


it  would  over  como  to  tl.at  with  me  I'd  bo  willin' lo  ,1-    ., 
msht  before  the  „,onow-de„,.  know.,  I  wou  d      A    foM  "'" 
bort,  thank  God!  the  greatest  danger',  n^sl    th„  „^     ,         " 

a.ai„  under  the  oid  rooM:fo  '1,  Z ^^^^J^'  '!  -' 
1  keher  th.ng,  came  to  pass,"  said  she  honefullv  "  ^^Ib^ 

:  n- n '°  "r-.''" ""'-°''  -^^^^  - "-;! 
Tuft  ,;,x  "s^r:-? ""': ^'"^-''"" ""° ''"-■° 

pas.,  too  J„h„  ,„^l';,.    t    °T       ^'''^  """""^  '^''°"'  '» 
another,  and  Bess  .:;«  .o^'^Str  .'S':' ^f^'  »" 

r'f  •  ",f."""-'»>'"°-b„t  rd  bos:;;  „"r\ :''";,;;:; 

ix.van  something  worfh  whn^  ^^    i  •  fe'^'ng  I'atiier 

l.ouse.     Well.  InleZl         ir     "  "'^"  "'^"''^^^  ^"^  ««'^«o'- 
«.  home  witl:  ZeClt' U irTerro  T^  ^^^  '» 

noppbrr.bi;r-r;r 

aside  the  work  which  sTm  i,^^  ^       "^'^^ '^°*'"  ^^^'^s-    I^aying 

'hesitation  of  manner  that  Bessv  conl.l   nnf   nf  *v, 
moment  understand  •  "  Bessv  i  w«  .  °*^  "^^  *^^ 

want  you  all  to  join;-  '  ""'  ^'^'"^  ''  ^''^^''''  ^"^  I 

What-rin'tJie'  "''/"^^  ^^  '^"^^^'  "*^=«  ^  ^  new  move 
wnats  in   the  wind  nowl"    Alond   ^T.«  .ovi 

t   '-'^-        1    'iiouglit  you  were  too 


206 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR^ 


good  a  girl  to  refuse  to  join  in  the  prayers  of  any  family  with 
whom  you  lived!"' 

"  Catholics  are  forbidden  to  join  in  prayer,  ma'am,  with  any 
except  people  of  their  own  persuasion." 

"  And  why,  may  I  ask  V 

''  Why,  because  the  prayers  are  not  the  same,  and  the  belief 
isn  t  the  same  either " 

"Bessy !"  said  Mrs.  Hibbard  sharply,  "    e  believe  in  tho 
Lord  Cluist  and  His  atonement !" 
^^  "  I  know  you  do,  ma'am,"  said  Bessy  in  a  deprecating  tone, 

but  still  there's  many  things  loe  believe  that  you  don't  sown 
couldn't  pray  with  you  at  all !" 

"Oh!  very  well!"  said  the  lady  coldly,  "we'll  try  tho 
others  I  hope  they  are  not  all  so-so  renj  rigid  as  you, 
Jiessy !"  ' 

But  the  others  were  not  much  more  yielding  than  Bessy— 
Onny  refused  flatly  and  at  once-Ellen  hesitated  and  seemed 
to  calculate  the  possible  consequences  of  a  refusal,  but  catch- 
ing  tho  eyes  of  her  two  companions  she  took  heart  of  grace 
and  said  no  !  she  wouldn't  do  what  would  hurt  her  soul. 

"  Hurt  your  soul !"  repeated  the  mistress  haughtily  and 
angrily.  "  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  it  would  hurt  your  soul 
to  pray  with  t<5 /" 

"  Well!  ma'am,  I  don't  know  much  myself,  God  help  mei'' 
^aid  Ellen  stoutly,  "but  I'll  stand  by  whatever  Bessy  and 
Onny  say,  for  I  know  they'll  say  and  do  what's  right." 

"In  that  case,"  said  Mrs.  Hibbard  sternly,  "vou  can  all— 
but-you  may  go  down  stairs  for  the  present.  Vash  !  you 
of  course,  remain  !"  ' 

Much  did  the  girls  wonder  at  this  sudden  prayer-mania  of 
Mrs.  Hibbard's.  They  could  not  possibly  unravel  the  mystery 
unless  on  the  supposition  that  their  mistress  had  turned  Quaker 
and  was  moved  by  the  spirit  to  move  them.  They  were  wronrr 
in  their  calculations— it  was  the  Reverend  Joel  McCIashen 
Avho  had  moved  her  directly,  let  the  spiritual  agency  be  as  it 


TlIK    IRISH   GIRL    m    AMERICA.  207 

".at  ,1,0  rich  Indtui   .Zl,  T  "'""  """"""'  '"'™'»'='^ 

■■-' -..ee  z  u," :  :•:;.:■;:; Tr""';-""-"' 

Ho-vove,.  that  might  be,  the  go  a  «  nttaau  ,  a  "*:,  ""•  "■ 
to  convince  Mrs.  llibba,-,!  iL,  ',"""'  ''"''  '"^en  pains 
on  her  with  roanl  ,„  n  ,,  ,  '"'"^  ■■«Po,>sibility  rostcl 
no  hopca  "f  h  '  wn  sal  r,-  ""',"'"  '"'"'■  ''""'  """  "--  "'oro 
from  the  burlr  a,  r''°°  ""'"'"'"' ™"'«'>'«'  "'°™  "■■»* 

pr...- «:  ::::»„t,:,  1  ii„™  "rcrr^T-; 

reading.      Under  th;«  ««„/      i     .  couise,   Scriptural 

assist  at  familv-,>ravBr,  , '"'"""f""""  ""e  summoned  to 

cation  whe"  thev  ,„"',rf  f""  """  "''■  "»"'»'■''■»  ■»»■""- 
obstinacy  "^  '"''""-'""'  '"  "»«--=P''ctodly  (hoir  Komish 

Jrs,::!rptfer,LTa;r;;-r^rr"'.-^- '■- 

the  girl  excused  herself  on  the   cle  „;  /  '"  ™"'  "'"' 

missed  at  a  weekW  O    "°""^?''  """  "''''^  ""^  '""- 

to  heiself  ,n,l   f/J^      7       °  unplnasant  consequences 

Bllon  ha    b"'    ZVel:iT7l  *"'"^,  ""''  ^"'^='""»-  » 
we  have  described  he,  °""  "'"  """^  ™-^'"»' 

•-'   "'^i'^iS,  ci  Cauiulic  lady 


20S 


BESSV    CONWAV  ;     OR, 


vl,o.so  fam,]y  wns  ns  s.nall  as  I,er  moans  woro  lar^o.     She  was 
ho  ..fo  Of  an  on,inont  physician  in  lar.o  an.I  lu^ratlv'  pra 
H-o.  y.t  they  hvod  in  a  plain,  qniot  way,  boin.  both  avorL  to 
parade  and  ostentation  and  tho  turn.oii  and  t.^u.lt  of  society 
Then-  fannly  consisted  of  a  dan^hter  of  ten  or  twelve  and  a 
nuM-o  of  tho  Doctor's,  some  years  oMor.     They  had  a 7on  too 
ut  ho  was  then  at  college  preparing  for  lUs't^ttlr V, -'o     : 
.on.     It  was  just  tho  place  for  Bessy,  and  somehow  he    heart 
told  her  .o  l.om  the  time  she  first  sot  her  foot  withinl 

(  "n>,      and  I    Innk.  for  what  I  saw  of  them,  the  people  an- 
.l"st  as  homely  m  their  ways.     There's  nothing  troubhL  ^ne 
ea.n,  here  only  partin,  with  you,  Onny.  for  J  hardly  Txpea 
to  fall  in  with  such  another  comrade  girl." 

"Hut!  tut!"  said  Onny  smilinnr  through  her  tears,  'don't 

be  saying  thatl-don't  you  know  the  old  saying  Ifone  IveuZd 

^7\   There's  plenty  Of  good  decent'gi^s  li^^ro  H' 

Quigll;^"'  "'  '''  '''  "•  ^^"'"  "'^^'^  ^^"-  '^-  P0--  Oony 

Bessy  shook  her  head,  and  wiped  away  a  trickling  tear  and 

Baid  she  didn't  know  about  that.     "At  any  rate.''      d'sTe 

rri:^:::;:^- ''-'  -'"  ^^  ^—  ^--  -^^  -: 

"  Well !  God  grant  it!"  was  Onny's  response,  and  they  said 
"o  more  about  it  at  the  time.    The  word  was  lightly  said  then 
but  It  came  out  true  before  many  months  went  by  ' 

Before  Bessy  was  so  happy  as  to  get  Onny  again  for  her 
companion  she  had  many  a  sad  and  comfo'rtlL  day  with 
others.     It  so  happened    that  Mrs.  Delany  was  obliJed  to 

an  ft^'^oT  "T  ^''"^-^"-^  the  first  three  m1nth« 
and  ,t  also  happened,  probably  for  the  same  reasons  tha 
Bessy  eouM   not  make  a  friend  of  any  of  these  birTof  ^a 

Omn:  burr  ""  t  ""^  ''"-''''  *«  ''''  ^^-  --^t--  about 
Onny,  but  being  so  short  a  time  in  the  house  herself  she  was 


'•"K  inrsir  auu.  is  AMEmcA. 


209 

"""•'"".jj   to  mako  80  fron  as  .n  ^ 

e;^  tluvso  ccnnons  u,hI  «ooroV  o  M  """''t  ''■"•"'^''  '"'^'^  '<^ 

!'  -  point  to  toll  each  of         „  ,,  '^  T"?"'  '""''"-^  «^'"  "-^^ 
•"  ''-  -on,in.     One  no,  U  i  U  I  ''^   'T;  '^'"^  "^^  ^<> ««  out 

appointment  with  ro-ranUotI.o  °  ""'^  "''^'''y  ^'^^f.  lier 

was  the  only  ono  tlrU  n         •  '  '''''  "^  ""  '^^^ount.     Lossy 

^"t  ^-n  the  froauon'  chan  'nf  :   "  'V""  '?'  "  ""^  ^'--' 
^^--^.-or.     Howovor  it  ha,>;    rod   o    fi   ''"'  ^^  '"  "''^^  ^^"'^^'^  ^ 

'nany  months,  eyery  onVw  r"'  '^^"""'•^-orl.  ^vithin  as 

">^''^^-ont  about  hLr  M  ,s  '  f"''  ?''  '"^^^«^'  "^^^'^y 
-;;  over  .,ain  -Poatc.U,^"  ^  J^  ^^  ^^^  --«  ovot 
Sally  and  Bridget  in  Mrs.  Ilibbarcl  .''"  '"'■^^''"^^^^  ^* 

al>out  this  important  duty  of  ro  if';  """"  ^^'•'^^ossnesH 

-J^om  .he  sa^y  in  Mrs.  Delal-    1!  i'^'"""^  '^^'^^-^  ^^  those 
whoso  members  wero  all     h\  ""  '"  ^  ^^^^^'olic  family 

re.u;..i.ahoirh-fo  i:,     raTolV'^'"  ^^"  ^^"^'"^^  -^' 
^very  Sundav  mm.-        '^''''"^'^  ^o  be  no  excuse. 

t'-e  L  «om:^tr r  ff^Sr^  -  ^^^ ^^  came  round, 
">  ^'-om  eight  o'clock  Mass  ''"  '^^'■''^-  ^^^^"^  ^'-^^n^ 

;;  Well!  Bessy,  has  Anno  been  to  Mass?" 
■W — no,  ma'am !" 

"No!  ^vhy,  you  don't  say  so r- 

i>own  to  the  kitchen  goes  ^w\  n  i 
ing  about  with  a  yery  cor.seln     i     ,  '"^  '""^  ^"^"^  ^"n^  "^oy. 
«ho  was  doing  wro,;!;  °"'  ^'"^^  "^  "-"^h  sho  kno.v  >yoIl 


210 


BESSY    CON'WAY  ;     OR, 


Ann.  trio.,  .,t  ,„,t  to  oxc„.„  hcrxolf  „„  tl,„  ,„„„,  pj^^  „,., 
of   .mc-tho  breakfast  to  I,„  r„,,  a„,l  ,„  f„r„,  ^"^'  ™°' 

NonsiMise,  girl !"  says  Mrs    Del  inv    "  ,l„,  ■ 

r,  yoiu  ic.a-KctUo  on,  t  ion  }iuf»-v  niV  tn  p»,mh«i.   -    i 

..;;.  ;o  .oi,„  „,.t  so  oaw.  .:;rio„;:?iLtitLtrtr 

at  least  an  hour  to  prepare  it." 

"  Woll!  I  an't  particular  about  goincr  to-dav— T'li  r..;  ♦•„ 
next  Snnrlnv  "      rru-        -.i  '=""'r.   i"  uaj, — 1 11  wait  till 

nature         '■       '^''"  """  ""  '"^'"^'•■•"™  "'  «-'-"■»  good- 
nl^,llZ'%'  ""'V"!  ""'  S„„day_you  „„,st  hear  Mass 

pe..a,ty  if  I  aiio.ea  you  t  2^^,  Z'  .  '  v:  ZTZ 

fast.-'  ^  '    '"''  ^'""'  ^""^^'^'  "  ""  I  g«t  in  the  brcak- 

"  Never  mind  the  breakfast— wo  will  see  tc  fhnt 
for  you  haven't  a  moment  to  lose.'-  '~^"  ''  ""'^^' 

Away  tramps  Anne  upstairs,  with  a  slow  and  heaw  sf.n 
on  one  of  the  landings  meets  Bessy  ^  '^P"~ 

"  ^Vhat's  wrong  with  you,  Anne !  you  look  fretted  '• 


TriE  IRISH  cm,  i.v  AMRnicA, 


211 

••-  ni  .„,.,  ,„  a  ca.„ot  m^  ,"""^:;,J«;"-  •;■»  ;"<' '-« 

was  at  the  bolto ra  IT.Z        m  '"'""'  "'"  '"I'  B«y 

'^'»ci"«  .1.  tlie  way'„r  ™        '""  '""  *'"'""'""«  ™'<'« 

a.":';l'"i;  !:,■,'::"„":«""',;■""'  ™ '"- '""""-  -» «"« «»- 

Laclc'l  will,  a  f  In  ,       ""■'■','°'"' ''"  '■"''■  ™''°"'  '"■«''  co„- 

••^  tall,  g J„fu, :;  "  r ''^ ""  "■""'  """'""•'• «'-  «- 

.■>.aracleri,.ic  of  Z  «1    ,  '  f."^""'^'- "'""-'y  of  «-„re«i„„' 

been  passed  in  the  noIM,?,!  •.  T  ""  '"■"■  ''<""''  ''a* 
»i!very  accent  ^  L,'' e't  CJ' i;^;  „  ";"".™  --■  '^^ 
"inning  i™„„s,  „„  „,,      ,    j"";'  ^'Y™'"  "'■■'»'.  ""^  ">o« 

'-;.;oc„™ng  to  ^:^:^x:^i^;:::j^:::^'^  -"''■■ 

"Bessy,"  said  Mrs.  Dclanv  "I  .,v,„,  , 

^ay  to  almost  any  other  y^unl  p/™"*'  '  :™"W»'t 
'-cause  r  know  yo,,,-  faith  I  .ir^JlZCwZ  "' 

gious  instruction  bevond  thnt  „f  5^'  ""''  y""''  '■"'i- 

fee,  hunrhied  and  mo       ed     is  drr'lt"'  "/  'T'  ""'■    ' 

'■■Wi,y.dearme,  how  is  *Tt  :i-.a  J '^slid^lv  •"'' '" 
".arm  as  she  riacod  the  cotfee-p'ot  upon  the       ,f "'  '"  ""^ 

■r.*  rid  d=  ^r  T;  r: '-  -"-^ '  -  -  -- 

aem  yourself  since  you'have  "he  "  Tel  vr' l™"^  °^ 
«°«n  any  of  them  fully  impressed  wi  h  T  ,  '■^-''"'^  y»» 
ot  iaearing  Mass  on  Sunda™  "d  T*  *!.?'?"  """"-"on 

'  vaaja  :— lor  my  part,  1 


(i 


212 


BE3SY   COXAVAV;     OR, 


have  met  very,  vorj  few  d«rir,g  the  ten  or  twelre  vear«  I  L... 
been  employing  them-almost  erery  me  of  iZr^  \ 

same  trouble  to  get  tl.em  out  ZZ  ^"'^'  ""^  "'^ 

-e  shudder  to  thinVl  0.^12^0"  wb  '  7"'"-  ''  "'''^^'^ 
(That  uill  do,  Be.v  Jn  ;  l^^L  L"  ^r  if'"^'  '^""'"- 
count  fur  it  ?■'  ^^    """'  '^™  »'"  ac  ■ 

"  That  may  account  for  it  "  ^i->ifi  m-c.  t\  i 
-*c  took  ,.r  place  .t  t  MaWe  ■  lut  ittl! '.""f  ""■"^- 

many  of  them  careless  and  S  ''''"^'■^'  ^'^  ^'^«  «'^ 

the  house  of  God       t  ""  "^^^^^^^^^ 

them  as  they  are  whl  Tth    J    fr  """  ^''''  ^''*'»  '">  «^- 

m.ne,.  went  up  sta.T,  toi^te':  l^Jr::,^  TT  "'" 

fl«tasked  M«.BeIanyif  .shewouM  ple.30  toZl  t;  '  , ':f 
»he  wanted  the  breakfast  things  removed  " 

«i?,"i:— t^e  tr^Ltth^t-rr"""  "- 

Mrs.  Beiany.  thought,.    XheThS  C;  e^di  ^rtrr'S 
from  the  original  idea      TJ.n,.  „,  »  ""^t'gea  a  Jittle 

and  the  Docto'r  dee.atd  it  e^reLr,  ,7 i^  ""'  "^^' 
and  its  musie,  and  all  the  rest.  •  For  rnV '1  t  '''T"'"'- 
always  feel  more  devotion  at  a  W  Zs    llee  '  •','' 

Maria ,    Of  course,  your  notions  J^Z^r^iZ:!:^: 


THE    mRH   om,   IX   AMEBIC*. 


213 

ialf  satisfied,  as  it  y^^rTZZ  a  ?    "t "=  """""•    ^  ■""  ""'y 
you  know,  i,  „,e  p,,S  -j^^  '  >'<'"'  Mass,  ft.  the  High  Mass! 

«  bound  to  assist  at  it.  If  thev  d<,  '  '?.  "'"'  "'"'  """  «™ 
and  that,  you  will  allow  is  .„'L>,  ''  1'"°''  "'^^  *«  so™o„, 
«f  hours  spent  at  Grand  IZT^Z  tf  '"  "°  "■"  ^°'""» 

desert  of  lift_surrounded  by  eveml'^T"  'P°'  '»  "» 
with  prayer,  and  praise  andZ  /   ""'"'  '"*  venerable, 

floating  around,  oh  rthle  areTnd-d      *'"  ""*'  "'  "'«"»<' 

'he  ve:.ed  and  world-harassed  bet   ,K    """"^  °'  P'"'^''' """" 

«3  week-long  care,,  and  is  at  re^t ,'        °™  ""  '"'  •»"•<""  "^ 

anrrnnTrratTbrottt  fbr  '"??  ''''•  "'-^'^  '«"« 
the  Doctor  forgot  for  the  ti  '    .     ,"  '°  B'^'^'^W  and  even 

He  -Idon,  won't  .0  G  d  IL  '1  r.fe"';'""'"^  ''™''™'"^-- 
Oaty,  but  he  went  that  dav  IT:  ,  5  "'"*  "'  Professional 
tha«  hi.  Wife  had  et  i™",!!::;^"""  """  "'"<'  ^'"°"««™ 


214 


BESay   CONWAY;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

could  be.  away  from  home.  Si"  had  a  ,„ !,,,  ""  "'  *" 
whom  she  loveil  almost  as  well  as  M«  wl  "  I  °  "'""'^'"^ 
advantage  of  bem«  of  W  „  .  '"''  "'"'  "'«  S'l"" 

co.npa„i;„.     She'";.;  a':  .  Td  ^1 1^""  ."""^  '"'■  "" 
and   smoothly  in    fh«     .^^^  I '','''*  ^^^  ^'^«  ^owed  oji  tranquilJv 

seemed  to  Bess,-  that  she  ..ad  1:;;?^  .  ^t  ^ir'  ' 
Her  lands  in  the  Savin..a'  Bank  «•.,-.  1.  i-,  "  '*"""  '""■• 
the  world  was  going  ^  ,1  wuh  Ler    ''*^'"  f -.""™»-g.  and 

since  she  saw  him  at  Ned  Fim^Ly's  she  hT.ru  ' 

.oln,  the.e,and  ^e  .in^.^^^^Z^J^  ^1^7^" 
absence,  wore  so  offended  that  they  neyer  wonf  \T 
meant,  so  thai  all  intercourse  between  111.  '  '*'^^'' '' 

rr::^::^Ltirst"r\''"'^^«'--^^ 
-^e.^th^theL;:;-d'resst^:r;i:^ix^^^^^ 


THE  mrsir  girl  is  America. 


I'-okin?  so  unlike  I,i„,se7f  «„,„!  "■""■•  ''*""'  "'o  har 

"'"i  stoM  he  .at  there  J  th  ,1,,^ 7  "I  ■""■     """  ■"">  heavy 
"ance   oharaotertaic  of    he     1    ,    "f "."  ''""'"y  <"  »™te 
I'-  Ned  wa.  ,arg„  a„/,te,to'C  TT™'^  """"''"■•'• 
-"■.eMyanda  h,.,,,e„  ,„  mil  r^r        '■'""'''  ™- 

■f  ••■nwho.awhimhadch  !  °,  '  '"f  ""'  """*""<>» 
«l.»t  c„,.„r„„,  ,„a„  Of  ,„„X';-\;:  r /"?"""  ^™"  ">'o 
face  ™  no  longer  what  it  had  b  °n  ^'  !.  '  SOo^-l'-mored 
■■overed  with  a  sort  „.  „„rnri,  ""•  ""''  »»■■»<'  and 

".er  increased  by  snndry  b' Ltch"'  ltl"™'l'"""^"  "^  '- 
eyes,  once  bright  and  twinWi"  "„•..  j'  ""'"""^'es,  and  the 
''""  and   nnmeaning,  protr,  *L   r     f ""  """""■'  ''""  ""w 
An  altered  man  was  Ned  p    /jn  a^d      T'   '"''"  '"'^^*^- 
™s  his  wife.    What  Ned  had  „,'     .,  °"  "'""'""'  «°">''n.  'oo, 
AH  that  hearty  plnn,,™!  ^ttTof    "''^■*' A".v  had  lost 
f'om  the  healthful  plains  of  rin  "^  "^  >'™iWl.t  ivith  to, 

"""S  behind  but  Ski  Id  b'nr'T''"  S™». '-ving  ,1 
eonntenance  over  which  flfteeXtr,"  "/'"'^-'-Xlng  ^rn 
"•ould  seem  to  have  passed     C."  "^  ""'"'  "'  '»"'■. 

as  material  went,  bnt  there  was  a  ne.r?  T  '""  '^'^  "■'  ««■• 
everything  „„  her  that  contrlstertt    /;,""'"-^' ""•"  =""•"' 
My  "  round-about"  little  won  a      ha      .      ''  '"'"  *»  "^"^       ' 
Imes  of  care  were  deeply  indeZd        .    ^  ""'"  '°  "">•    The 
:f  her  dapper  Httk  LlltZiZXZ  "'"'""''•'  ''''-'"'> 
;  ;»Mvi«.  yea«.     SurelySg^tre'o  ?"''"" ''"^'•"^' 
he  Fmigans  as  they  did  in  d^v.  I    *   "«  "'  "e"  W"l 

a^  -^een  flowing  ^II^X^TL!':.    Whether  wealth 

hemg  either  happy  „r  prospero*     T,!   '       '; "''"'"' ''"  '■•'"» 
And    who    were    tli«    /    ""'•    '^"at  was  plain. 

'"■'ered  the  ba^roo^'Irrn  r!':.^:""^"^  '^"-   '-at 

-,   ■—  ""^1  summer  evening, 


216 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


just  as  the  day  was  fadini?  into  night  1  Why,  one  of  them,  to 
be  surn,  was  Dandy  Dixon,  and  the  other  Henry  Herbert, 
There  was  not  much  change  in  either  of  them  as  to  outward 
appearance,  Dixon  was  still  the  swaggering  "  swell,"  combed 
and  moustached  as  carefully  as  ever,  with  his  small  hat  resting 
on  the  top  of  his  frizzled  locks  as  jauntily  as  could  be,  Her- 
bert was  still  the  same  handsome,  reckless-looking  fellow,  as 
well  dressed  as  usual,  but  dissipated-looking  withal;  his 
cheek  habitually  flushed,  and  his  eyo  habituaPy  restless  and 
unsteady.  Jlis  habits  had  not  been  improvinr' — tliat  also  was 
plain.  He  and  his  worthy  companion  had  beer  laughing 
obstreperously  as  they  entered,  but  seeing  Mrs.  Finigan  be- 
hind the  bar  with  Ned,  Herbert  winked  at  the  other,  and 
coughed  signiflcantly.  Nods  being  duly  exchanged,  Herbert 
said  in  his  frank  way : 

"  Good  evening,  Ned ;  what's  the  matter  that  you  look  so 
grave?  Thinking  of  the  great  Kepeal  demonstrations  at 
home,  eh  V 

"  Well,  no— I  wasn't  thinking  of  anything— in  particular."— 
■  "  You  wasn't,  eh  1    Well,  anyhow,  send  us  in  three  stiff 
brandy-and-waters— two  for  us  and  one  for  you,  and  come 
along  in  to  take  it— cigars,  you  know,  in  quantity." 

"Deed  and  he'll  not,  then,  Mr.  Herbert,"  put  in  Ally, 
sharply;  "not  a  drop  of  it  he'll  taste  this  bout,  anyhow." 

Herbert  laughed,  and  Dixon  smiled  superciliously. 

"What!  little  Mrs.  Finigan  mounting  guard  .'—putting  on 
the  inexpressibles!"  roared  Herbert.  "Well,  if  that  isn't 
rich !" 

"  Laugh  as  much  as  you  like,"  said  Ally,  "  it'll  not  do 
me  any  harm." 

Ned  said  nothing,  but  kept  on  mixing  the  liquor  according 
to  order.  When  the  three  glasses  stood  ready  on  the  waiter, 
flanked  with  a  bunch  of  cigars,  he  ordered  Ally  to  let  him 
pass. 

"Not  a  foot  you'll  pass  here,  Ned;  I  tell  you  that  now!" 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA. 


there,  and  m  send  ,„  .h!  ,     ™''  ''^  '>■■'"«'"'.    "  Sit  dow- 
"  Nonsense,  wt:     ';:,;?  ^y^.'-'.^-'—n." 

wia  your  foolery ."  and  1,„         ,         '    ^'"  °"'  °f  *»  ™y 
no.  succeed,  '  ''"  '™''  '"  *"'•  ler  "Bide,  but  dii 

"  i'ott  mv  just  as  well  sit  down  "  said  A»„     -.u 
determmed  airj  "you  l.ave  t,i  '^'  "'*  *  "»" 

n.e  that  salver  til,  1  send  it  in"      '"°"""  '°''  ""'  "''y-    «-» 

^n"eran';i\;:r/j:t:r'"! '"-"--  -- 

others  who  chanced  to  be  pros  n.Vd     7  °/  ""  "  ">■" 
B"e  poor  Ally  a  kick  that  ?   ,,'  ™""'  •"'  f°°'  ''"d 

"■ay,  and  in  he  „a    1,     »  ,   ,  f  ""■/""■  ''"°"="''  ™'  "'  >* 
l-y  tl.e  two  worthy  assol;:"  '  °'  "  '°"^""°'-  ''''"»-«'> 

"  Well,"     said      Ally       V^^^'nrr     1 

"-•s  a  God  in  Ileat'en"  t'  '  fe  I,''  t  -t:'?;  T'  ""'!  «-« 
•'■1  '>eco.ne  of  the  likes  ef  me  v-  T,'  '^^  ™™  '  "■''"' 
-went  on  with  her  work,  she  wast'lZ:'"  l^ri.rtoS 

«ou":;\::st:?o?Lr.  i"-"  ^-'^  "-^-^  -  ---^ 

™n„e,.  She  ever  had.    Isn^ts^tir"^, '"  ""'  '°^  ""»' 

eoho^"  I'-Uottbott:  "rj""™"'  ■■"  "«  -"---a 
Shan  I  say_i^;„de  *:  '"    ""^  °'  *'•  '""'san's-hem-ha-       • 

^M^^Jed  rp-;;;"-?;',,:;;:  '"•^°"' "-''.  '^  y°"  p>easer. 

was,  sir-but  vou'eewon^e'hT  ""''  taP"dent-never 
'«-  about  thL^s.::^  r;L  Tall  'it  •  TT  "°""™  "'  - 
take-ahem  !_that  I  take  a  ,M  '°  ''"  '""«'  """  I 

Tbafs  the  Whole  trutht::  an^""'  *!"  '  ""'"'"  "^  '™™. 
'rtf,  at  all.  Mister  Herbert"' nor  IZ  "'n'"''  """=  "  ">  y""- 

-~  -  -■■.  •  said^Herbert  drily,  ..r„  bound  to 


218 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


I     flo  matto  ,  ne,a  ,jour  friends,  Nod!  ami  as  1„„,  a,  ij.e 
;;  UudouModly  >vo  will,"  .aid  Dixoa  absently 

-vsaTd'"^^,,°i:r„:s,/rr;ii;^f^^^^^ 

"Oh!   don't  mention  it,   don't  mention  it"  siid  irorh.rf 
nagnan.mously.  but  his  color  rose  very  hi^h   •'  i?    ,i,  ,' 

no-,v,  you  kno^7,  and  I  don't  cm  fn  /  '  ^'^'''''^ 

C,<n„,voll„ntl,owro„g,,:do„fArdn°r:'    '  '   "'"'  ''''' 

Ned  desired  nothinf^  better  nn,l   i,-.  i        •    •• 

.^m"";?'','  ?'5  ""'■'"'■'■  "'  "'""'  '><>»'  -"et  the  bottle  on  the 

an  •    itve'tset^"'""  "' r'  '"""^  '*""■  I""'"^-    " 
fedn  .     1  Haven  t  set  eyes  on  him  \n  an  acre  " 

N.7^'" '  ^'  ^''''''  ''"^"  ^^"''^  '^^  «"''«-'  ^«  he  used  "  said 
l!:  da^r  ^^^^  '-''  "^^  ^^  ™^'^  ^°  "-  ^-t  of  health  ^ 

"  ^^'^'^P'  ^«  h^«  go"e  the  way  of  all  flesh~eh  Ned  ^"    Th;« 
wae  byway  ofajoke,  but  it  came  harsh  and  bi'ttl  from  'he 


THE    IRISH    Ginr.    IN    AMERICA. 


219 

ha!  ha!"  '  ^"'^  ™^' ^"«  '^^^^Pany  down  below.     Ha! 

"Ila!  Iia!  ha!"  ^,hoed  Dixon-  "Wo      ♦, 
tomer,  that  hunchback  l-h^^^o't  a  '(l"^^^  ^  ^"^^^  ^-- 

-nnite  /•«..-.«,,„,,  ,y  j„J;^;^f  ^  -^  «>-  l^^e  a  rattlesnake  - 

doesn't  do  so  n'rchl  od  atlh'  '"'\f ""  ''  "'^  ^^'^'"^^  "-^ 
J'"",  sir.  or  you  Zmnt  nn  ^  ''"^'  ^  ''^"^-  ^«"  ^^""'^  know 
the  samo  breatl,"  '"'^  ^'"^^^^  ^"'^  "^«  ^Id  Fellow  in 

"  I  know  him  like  a  book '"   said  TT«,.i.    .     , 
n^-ingly;  suddenly  startin.  he  struck  th.">    '''''""^  ""^ 
"  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is.  Ned  "he     V^      i  ''^"^  '"'^  ^^^'  '• 

tl-t  misshapen,  misbe^ottl^in.;!"  '  7     "'""^^'  "'  *^""^ 
cousin,  Bessy  Conway  v'  ^  ^"  ^^^  ^"  J'*^"''  Pretty 

^^a'^z'Tf:^:^':'  ^^^^  --^--^  -d  ^ed.^^. 

''Well!  MastL  irrrf"lale'<       '"'   ^'  "^^  ^'-^^  ^'^-• 
^vorld  for  fun  !"  ^'  ^'''     '"^"  ^"««gh  you  beat  the 

"  If  you  take  that  for  fun  vnn',.o«,     i      . 
gravely  returned,  "  I  never  wa^  rl  '^'^taken,"  Herbert 

my  word  !"  ''^'  "^^''^  "^  ^^^rnes',  I  give  you 

"  If  I  thought  as  vou  do  "  oo;^  n- 

:  - ,-.  -  0.  «.;,e  .r  letter  :s: 

shot  of  their  discourse     If  J?  "'^  *^™^  ^^""n  ear- 

I'ttle  man  had  1  X    1" 'T'^"^^' "^'^^ ---g- that  the 
finding  himself.  befoilL  L  t        """^  '"^^  ^^^'^  ^^PP^--.  ^nd 

thoughthewo;ddj^  d;opirsr\'^'';"''^^"^^^^^^^^^^ 

Ally  with  her  eyes  red  and  sin  /  ^'"'^^"^'     ««  f°»^°d 

than  he  had  Zr  iZ"    'r'^'''' '^^ 

-  -    seen  ..    Taere  were  several  persons  in  the 


-f. 


220 


BESSY    CONWAY;     OR, 


thing  lappenea  Ned  r.  ""■  """•  * '"'«'»"  '    "»»  any- 

which  it  was  meant-  "  1,^,  ,!  "''  °"'5'  ""o  ^"  <■»■■ 

-er.    He's  rSi'l.imLr       '^  °"'  """^  ''=^'"  «»-«  'ha„ 

to  do!"  "»">h,ra.    God  help  me  I  I  don't  know  what 

'■Does  Herbert  frequent  the  house  still  v 

hi«"a  'not iims^^'i'nVrrt  TZ  T  '""'°"™"-    "«  "«« 

«e.i.ht  the;  tai^etTomp  :;-;,:  Ta'n'tT;  7'"^'" 
they're  here,  if  it's  ,r„e  to  themselves"^  ""^  ""^ 

just  for  lreJ'itZ-°lTT'f:'r  among  them 

^e^^rr^tdr'-"^^^^^ 

f       "  «*  t-uair  under  it  and  whisnered  •  "  Tfo  «»,  •     u 
open  Paul     rs^^  1.1  .       ""P«'ea.      it  s  an  inch  or  so 

A^e^pio^r/tra  r^^^^  -e-  - 

in  you  next  to  God  himself !"  ^''^  "^^  '^"«'  ^« 

It  so  happened  that  there  were  no  others  in  th^ 
thing  rather  unusnil  m  ihoi  u      n  "  *"®  '*°o™  (a 

nothing  mor«  jiot>,in«  1  ,        taoie-taik    of  the  tavern, 

liking,  and  he  never  willingly  put  himself  in  the  way 


THE    iniSir    GIRL    TX    AMKHICA.  221 

of  seeing  thom       All  nf 

exciteii.     Ilnrberl  laid  ,1  """''      °"'™''  '""  "'""'i™   wa.H 

towanl,  Jfo,!  ast,    ^  ™  °"  ""■  '•■""°'  »»<>  '■""'"■S  over 

"=,  I..,  tl,I»  WsZ'  ,„ 'i    ';°  "  «"»"-  '">■'<'»'  follow  as  you 

"  Well .  rn  i„  ',  ,  M  ''"'"'  t^spoctations  V 

N«.,  wi  ;  ,:    J™  '-•'  "-'  ''.  «-tor  Herbert !"  .aid 

Lave  made  money  "  and  hi  =  /',•  '  "°  '''"""  "'"  ™ 

you  1;„„„.,  Mr.  Herbert,  thart   the  ntj      .,  °'°'"'5''  """■ 

«-  -...,»,  a,  „,y  o,„  ..neT  :„::'.  d"r:-'"°'';^  r'" 

rnee  penny  of  his  own  too  for  h„  ^■~'"  ''="*  « 

u«cl  to  go  to  Liverpool  «ce  a  fot^,    T  "  "'''"'""'■  "'"■  ""■' 

-=  00..M  ijic.  „„  L„ey",n:::L':t;.::ri""^-'-  "-■=""■ 
1-0  :.i:  rneriatri:  did"''*'  '^"" '  ^™  -^  ^- 

"  Tf  ,-«„'^         .;  ^'^  y^"  want?" 

She  tbi,!  J!!.."""  '"^'»""'-''  *'  ■'■»  A.ly-,,he  thinks- 

wJvercrtr,:'::'..™"'-'"'  -^  "-->•'- »"-'  ".m-^^i- 

"  Wliy,  she  thinks  the  business  dee=n'. 
ha!  ha!-sl,e's  a  mighty  earefoTw  "'"^ '"'"' ""-'"" 

people  ought  to  livobyruTe  trr°''?  '°°'  ""^  ""■"'" 
i'.Jse  every  day  Of  his  life     Ce's  no""     '  "  ""^^  "=  » 

..•"'.' e':'d  o-i't; riCa,,:." h" °"' """' «°« »- • 

Ins  glass.  -"^'onally.      Ho  pointed  signifleantly  to 

..f  gettin.  fl;   like   Z^Jr^^,  I  ",'  -"•    She'd  be  afeard 
tearin'the  flesh  off  mv  hn.  "  ^^  •— and,   I  protest  she's 

She  says  r„  a  burder.o    "  1^  "r°""'  "'  """  ^^">»  f'"- 
raen  to  myself  and  every  one  else.    By  the 


222 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


a^^   !  «I.es  not  far  wrong  in  that!"  he  addod.  parenthetically 

^  "a   do  you  tin-nk's  the  cause  of  it,  Mi.ster  Herbert  r^' 

_  Herbert  and   Dixon  exchanged  looks,  and  the  latter  drew 

Ina  hand  over  his  face  affectedly,  in  orde;  to  concea  Te  'nl 

Una   wo„  a  corne.    -^^-bert  tried  hard  to  preserve  hi.  .Jvi; 
as  he  hastened  to  answer  •  t,itivuy 

to  vo*  haid-that  yott  lead  a  gentleman^^  life,  i^  f„etr        ' 

Of  course,"  subjoined  Dixon,  "  of  course.    ;f  „ur  «„„<, 

could  only  get  up  a  good  .„,art  fit  of  U.e  gout,  he  wo  Id"  a"» 

for  a  bori,  gentleman.    Ha!  ha  Mia  i"  "oma  pa»s 

■■  He !  he  !  he !"  chuckled  Ned,  "  I  wish  you  could  hear  our 

AI  y  so,„eU,„es-„hy,  it  was  only  yesterday  she  told  Teif  I 

<i,dn  t  leave  olT  drinking,  the  devil  would  carry  „^r„7b  ,dv 

and  bones  some  day,    Christ  save  us!  what^s  thitr  he  cr    ,1 

!"''  "'^;  """'.^'f  «™'  ''"'"'  «J--  »"  ««  little  ,W,dow 
opposite  to  which  he  was  sitting.  ' 

Herbert  and  Dixon  started  "p  in  alarm,  and  followin^r  th« 
direc  .on  of  Ned's  eyes,  glanced  up  at  the  window  NotliL 
was  there  but  the  white  curtain.  J>iotning 

II  What  the  d 1  did  you  see  ?"  cried  Herbert  an..rily 

on  It  *'"'  ^"^^^^^^-^"^  -as  right^oh  Lord  ha;e  mercy 

His  eyes  were  still  fixed  on  the  window  and  his  words  were 
to  himself_he  seemed  to  forget  that  others  were  present 

Herbert  to  his  companion  ;  "  let's  see  if  we  can't  pound  them 
into  him  again."    So  saying  he  struck  Ned  a  smarf  ti 

th  JtTsi'c;  t^  --ira'pr  oT:r^  v^?  '^  -'' 

1.1     •       T,  Pa^^  ^^  6yes>  liord  save  imt 

blazing  hke  two  coals  of  fire  !" 

"Stuff!"  said  Herbert  contemptuously     "It's  fha  h..  a 
getting  to  your  head."  ^  '  ^^®  ^'^"^^ 


THE  imsii  ami.  in  A^mi:   ,  ooq 

flood  Of  Jis,,t  ,■„,„  II  "h™"       ""■ '"  ""■""  "  "P"'-    Tl.c 
"'i"«  thin,  „L'2',;'  'i'".  7'«--'"'  .li».i"ct„e.,,  „„t  „„' 

'aughort  till  their  sides  ached  1,    ■     "''',""■■>■.'  •■""I  H'e  two 
cotrntenauee.  *  "' '""  '""■^'^som  exp,e»io„  of 

wo^u;!e:™::t':„ta7a^:z  ^/"■^'"■'""  -<- «-  •- 

"If  yon  do,"  said  ho    "  T'?i  r,„ 
rnake  n.e  smoke  "  ^^^'^-''^"Jle,  and  maybe  «ho  wouldn't 

"Pooh,  man!  what  of  her  raillerv  >"  .nM   rr    , 

.- r:„„r  fSt:r J;ni:r  "^  "-'■  "-■  -'  - 

frisMenei  ,„  away."  '°  ''"'™  '""  "'""o !  ''o  ha, 

brZhresvMvh:::;;:  i  .r'  '^r '"  ■=*"  ^"^^  "-<"  ■■" 

"  Wl„t  ■,,   '"'°-"  ""^  raatter  iv.th  yon,  Ned,  honey?" 
Tho  f,^w,  J       ,  ^^  "'*"^Q  many  there  '2" 

was  oee„,ea  .y  p^i..  rXT^irrSZ^ 


BESSY   CONWAV;     OR, 


^hero  was  no  confldenco  sub.sistinjr  between  then,  and  neither 

tL  '!::  T '  ■" "'  r.r  ^^-^-^  ''^'^■^'"-  ■"  ^'-^^  -•" " 

V,       ''"'"•"  «^f^""'«,  whilst  Herbert  Avas  workinrr  }.!«  «„•, 

s  n;;,!'r""'  -^^^^  '^•"' >■ "-  »"""';:;„";  ■ 

«  'i^aer,     Oniiy  l,avi„s  go„o  out  to  inako  sonio  n„,.cha,^« 
»l.en  a  knock  oa„,„  to  i,,e  b..,o„,«„  door  ami  Z  tZ^Z 
open  „  »h„  .„w  a  tall,  „,oaciat«,  .ornau^TJli 

:::';:,::"  ■"  ^  '°""^ '™'''  ^---^  --  -'i>-'fo;':oi° 

to  work,  so  wo  ha'nt  got  a  thing  in  the  house  "     °  ^° 

God  help  you.  poor  woman  !"  said  Bessy  compasaionatelu 
1 11  iio  and  see  if  there's  anything  for  you  •'      ^P"'^^'^"^^^^^, 
She  returned  in  a  few  moments  with  a  larrre  slim  nr  ^       a 
and  some  cold  .eat.     The  moment  the  eh  uTaw  t  she  Z 
pcd  her  tiny  hands  and  laughed  :  ^^' 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  mother,  I  guess  wo  sha'nt  give  father  any-shall 
'81.1:    so  drunk,  you  Know,  he  can't  eat-can  he   "         " 
bluit  up!"   said  the  mother  ancrrilv   nnri   n 

r;r  r "  "-^  ^"^  ^-  -  -  -^^-n-oS 

I'  The  Lord  in  heaven  «ave  us  !  is  it  you.  Sally  -?" 
1  guess  you're  under  a  mistake  "  fniri  ♦>,« 
s..a...    .....  «a.„e  a.„t   Sall"%„r  ItrX"™:: 

" 1'      a,nd  sezn'T   tlie   rhilrl   h,r  fu  young 

fle.e,.  tj.e„  a.a.,,a  It  ^p  zi^i^  z:;.:::^ " 

Bessy  stood  a  moment  lookin-  after  thn  m".    ^  ,    "'^^' 
won..l..,  eoala  It  .e  Sa,„  s.^  l^r.t:  "'r  U  Z"!;. 


''"^:  uuHH  t;nu.  is  America. 


..    ,  235 

optical  dolu.sion       Tl,„* 

-eyo,,,., :« ."'IT":"';;;:""'"''' "•"■■•"--' '-  "■•- 

««  it  „.«,-„,„  ,.„io,_„,e  „°' „„!  '°  "f  "■  "•"  f-'^—ahored 

'»ng,  lank  (Iguro  movi„.r  „,,!,  nvlr  ,      "  '°'"'""'  ''" 

;'l"alli,„  c„i,.,  ,y  .„„  ,,„;,,   "'s"„";  '""f  ■''"   "-  "ill 
la.iiI.-|,o,,t  ,vhe„  a  miserable     1,,  /"•■"■■'""'  "'""^n-l 

piteous  accents:  wretched  parent,  crying  in 

"Oh!  daddy!  don't  boat  mammv'    Rh«  i    -* 
noting  at  all !"  ^^mmy  \    Bhe  ha'nt  got  noting— 

<^i-;i=ri"t;~t;;~^ 

man's  face  she  was  at  no  lo  tl  '  ^"'"'^  '"^^  *"""  «»  ^l'« 
black  n.oustache,  the  volb  rj^Tr^fo  ""  ^  '''  ^^'  ^^- 
and  the  matrimonial  expectatio^'f  n  ''"^^'^'^•'"1'^"^ 

"ad  told  so  many  lies,  spent  o' I  ^"""""  ^''''''"^'^'  S-"y 
tbe  best  place  she  ever  T  '^'  """"'y'  ^"^^  Anally,  Jo«t 

Bessy  had  seen  a,H  j.eard  onouah      Rhn         ,^ 
agme  the  altercation  betu.l        ?  ^  ''^"^^  ^^^''^  *"'- 

«tances-the  wretched  p  31.;,"  .'  T'''  "  ^"'^^  ^•^^"- 
Partner  of  his  misery  as  bt^td'h?"'^''""  ""  ''^^^''^ 
of  food  for  herseir  and  her  sUrvlL  rm  '"'  '''''''  ^"  ^"-' 
with  the  hope  tb  t  some  cha'^rb  /,  I"  ones-watching  her 
pence  whic!.  he  might  no.sf.  "*^  """"'^  S'^'"  '^^'^  ^  '"'^w 

cither  by  threats  r^plr  on  To'''"' ,"  ,^'^^'"'"=  ^''-'^  ^-• 
with  the  vile  stuff  fofwhk  InW  Tv  ''  '"^  '"^'^'^^'^^^  "^^^ 
rible !  hcH-rible  !  an  I  Bess vL,^  f  '''•  ^'  '  '  "^«  ^^-- 
into  the  con.fortable  Id  ebrwr'^  '''^  ^^  ^"^^'^  ^^^^ 
not  enter.  ^''"  ^'^^"'"^  ^^««  or  'Jepravity  dared 

vi^t^^  dr::r:1;;t?^,::^^'  -  -^^-y.  dancmg  and 
"  "P'  and  lymg  and  scheming  !_how  oftsr. 


226 


BESSY    CONWAY;    OR, 


I  h«e  seen  her  mimicking  other,,  even  U,c,e  she  wa  bound 
0  respect-what  a  sight  ehe  i,  now  her,elf..-.hrvonM„U 
bear  a  word,  or  lot  any  one  say  she  did  wrong,  ^t  ah  'd  flv  a 

Ln  ;  hit^™*^"°"'  '"^  "^^  '» •>"  -P  -"*  everytHn 'Ld 
a.k  he,  b,t  from  door  to  door,  in  misery  and  dirtand  ra,>,  wm 

-arning  to  „„  and  e^  ^liker    'Z  rnl  S 

.  r'::ru:'t!m"'^  """i'^  "'^'  ^''>  ">'«-'  "»•  ™ « ™ 

round  Ihi^?  ■  '      "  ""^  "'  '""■■  "»'"  '  ''"P"  who'll  "me 

round  th,s  way  aga.n,  for  I'd  like  to  do  what  I  could  to  help 

mo^nl  t'lscrind  T"  *"'  ™^  "=""'  ""^  ^•"™  ™*»  -<' 

hadrr'rie       ^  Witer'arT'^rt  '"  ''''■  ^'■'' 
.™  had  a  decided  a^^^^^^^^^ 

f Tn!:;^- „t  str  r^rergritr^-r-r 

Principles,  ™sal,oLhe::*';''theouestL°'''r    '^  '""' 

rr  air;;;^™  r-;.!rd?the^rmt  z 

or.so,  lounging  -n^^atrtrjlre: ^^r; sll 
back  ro„™  on  the  fourth  "lory  of  a  te„emant-ho  Je  '  Z" 


rUE   IRISH   GIRL   m   AMERICA.  ^21 

continued  sje,  an7he  'be  'me^^e  t"  i  "'^^^  '''  "'^^  -« 
curable  drunkard  we  have  InTi,n        "     "'''  '^^"^"«'  '^- 

It  may  well  be  supposed  thif  «(nu  . 
ter^por  was  not  sweet  nod  anvbvh'     "''"'"'^  ''^^•^''^'^  ^' 
To  .a,  the  truth.  If  she  lad  to  .^..  r  T "'^'^^  ""•''«=«• 
;-de  the  shabby  fellow  pay  a    ,v  ^'for'"  "^^^'i^^^'  •^™  s^e 
Imn  from  morning  till  nUrht  .Zr  ^^'^  ^'^'^  «^^>Iding 

-  Jim  used  to  sa^y  to  ^^f^r^:;:rfZ:  ""  '^'''''--  ''^ 
setter  on  a  dro^vned  mouse  and  "  !  ?,  '  ''  ^'^'^  ^^"-"^-"'^ 
f  ally's  tongue  didn't  b^r.^^'su  iTei  J  tf  ^^'^"'^  "^^'^  ^^ 
^-^  a  Wide  berth,  and  seldom  ma"  w^^'"  '''''  ^«  S-- 
was  peaceably  disposed,  and  hirdrun  "''''  ^"^  ^^"'^ 

the  stupid  kind,  rather  ti.an  the liM  o    ^^r"  "^'l  "^"^"^  «^ 
when  a  brace  of  squallinc.  chid  en  11^*    ^' '''' ^^^V 
Sally's  time,  and  sickness  "came  t^n       .       "^  "  ^""'"'''^  «f 
that  she  could  no  lon^e   work  as  T  ^T''  '"'  *'^^"^'  «<> 
aberrations  assumed  a  Cg  1:    f/^^f,'^"^'  "^^  ^-'.^ 
ness  cleared  his  heart  of  human  n i  'v  o  V  '°"  '^  •''^^^^- 

The  sight  of  Bessy  tl  at  nT  w  ^  ^  "^'"''^^  ^«'«^tion. 

Planted  in  Sally'sTrLhel  h^t  It'  'f  ^  ^^^^^^  — 
bleeding  wounds  half  healed  by  custom  n/^''"  '^^'"   ''^^ 
lous  indifference.    It  reminded  Lrf^         '''''^  ^""'^  cal- 
what  she  might  have  be'-^of  the  .on J       ^'^  ^"^^  ^^■'^■^'  ^"^ 
advice  by  Which  she  never  pro^d     '/Tf ' '^"^  ^'^  ^^^ 
Of  all  she  had  sacrificed  for  the  ^nT.f  ^^  "^''  ^'^  ^'^'^t,  and 
cious  promises  had  lured'h::  ^:T'^Z^  T'-'  ''" 
fie,  she  was  tottering  down  the  stroT^.-!  f    "'  ^''"''^ ""  ^'^ 
a.m  Of  getting  away  from  Bessy,  .J^LVj^im  a      '"^  '°"'"^^^ 
popped  out  unexpectedly  from  iCT/   J       '""^  ^'"^^  «««"> 
To  his  harsh  demand  folrnoZysL  "  '"^''^^^'"^  ^^^ 

ranied  by  some  epithet  trueJou 'h  inT  '  '1^ ''''''''  '^^-'"- 
very  complimentarv.    That  nndf  ^       ^PP^'cation,  but  not 
Perated  Jim  that  h'e  fi^-  -.^-'"  •  i     _*^'«appointment  so  exas. 
-    "'••-«i^^-«b,s  foot  and  gave  her  a  kick 


228 


BESSY   CONWAY;    OR, 


wh,ch  almost  threw  her  to  the  ground,  then,  before  she  recov- 
ered  her  balance,  followed  it  up  with  a  blow  that  would  cor- 

the  uJ;rfr/'''  "'^  "^^^  ''^^  '^  ^^•-^^'^-^  ^^  destination     Z 
«ie  uplifted  arm  was  caught  by  an  M.  P.  passing  at  the  m  J 

ment,  and  the  valorous  Jim  was  hauled  away  to  the  lodZ 

provided  by  the  State  for  such  contumacious  lieges.  °    " 

The  e  der  child  renewed  its  cries  on  seeing  its  father  so 

Ule  at  ention  to  one  or  the  other.    Jim's  brutal  assauU  com 
n.g  at  such  a  moment,  completely  paralyzed  her.    She  suc- 
ceeded in  reaching  her  dreary  abode,  and  lay  down  on  a  bed 
of  sickness   from  which  she  never  rose.     Some  charitable 

ties,  obtained  her  admission  to  one  of  the  hospitals,  where  a 
few  days  closed  her  earthly  career.  She  died  in  a  stat  of 
de  iruim.  without  priest  or  sacrament,  and  her  two  little  chil- 
dien,  deprived  of  their  natural  protectors,  were,  of  course 
adopted  by  those  benevolent  individuals  who  mak  merchl' 
dize  of  the  souls  of  men.  t=i»-iiau 

It  was  not  for  years  after  that  this  sad  denouement  of  Sally's 
f   e  came  to  the  knowledge  of  Bessy  Conway,  and  when  it  dfd 
a^l  hat  remained  for  her  to  do  was  to  breathe  a  prayer  for  her 
^oul,  and  drop  a  tear  to  her  unhonored  memory 


THE    IRISH    GIRL    IS   AMERICA. 


229 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


and  often  when      ,  th' "u  ,      'f  '"  °"^  '^■'«*  »'  «"-. 
her,  for,  wi,h  ,„  hi,  efrLtel  to  oil  e  '  f       "      °""™'"^'' 

Mn^elf  .0  far  a/  ot  JeTtte  r  "","'  "'  '>'""  "^  ^-8"' 
marked  out  for  himsllf  „  „L  •  '""  "'""''  ""  ''"'  '"«'««» 
»>.rnnk  from  encZL!';  1'":?:";;^°  "■■*  ^-. '«'  ■"cl 
glance,  and  the  aching  voM  tC  It  I  'T*  '"""  °'  '■<"■ 
dearored  to  fill  „„  by  the  L'    V  '"  '''^-'  '"'  ''=«1  ^n- 

table  and  the  upr'  arfou    i    t  !f  TTT  "'  ">=  «^"""«- 
kne,v  well  that  every  IZ  ClJ  •    ,,     "'""'  "'""'''■    "» 

separated  Wm  j„.t  .T^t^h  X  fr  %"""'  "'  "'"■'''"°" 
>™  torture  to  him  and  vet  !„     !,  ^'''^-    "'=  "'""gl't 

«»il  habits  that  ^"'re  /ather  r  T  ""  ""'"'■' '"  °^^''=™"=  ""^ 
>.at.d  himself,  ir^  fhT,  r^ets" itdlrf'"^  '"  '"'■  "» 
his  soul  there  were  yearning.  Z,  *'  '^°''  ™"'"'here  in 

tbe  companions  of  wnolL"!?™'  ''°=  """'''■  ""  '""=« 
tbe  world  and  langltd  „' Z  '  "°"^ '''''"™''''^ '  '"""'"^O 
votaries;  all  his  bZ,  ■*"  '°-'=""''"'  ''''■'"™  "f  ib 

one  g«;:"p':  w  rC;Co„r  "''"'^'  '"^"°°'^«'^ 
toage  it  is  true,  had  wa.erdimr^.olL  r'"'""-  "^' 
passed  into  years  and  «a«  them  s,,""a'n.~!.!^".°'  ■"™*' 


230 


BESSY    CONWAY  J     OR, 


had  never  entirely  forgotten  Imr     ii.^  ■ 

eflaced.  ^«'oO"en  Her-tho  image  was  never  wholly 

Whether  it  was  Ned's  relationship  to  Bos.y  that  kent  >,• 
hovering  about  Tup  CA^-rr^  v,  i.    i     "-"Psyinat  kept  him 
Ned's  fnp,]f  nobody  but  himself  could  tell 

J^ed  s  facalties,  never  of  the  clearesf  Ti-,^   i 

the  best  f,.io„„  „e  „ad  in  the  worM     W  tl    h7j  r  k"',™ 

Ally,  or  Paul,  or  any  one  else.     Of  late  Allv  hn^  °' 

hopes  of  ever  seeing  his  eves  nn.LT     m  ^  ^''''"  "P  "" 

and  was  in  the  habi^ o     a^  "    ^""^.^Is  r  7^'  •'  '''''''''' 
no  more-that  fool  of  a  man  won'U      m  "  '''  '  ''"  '' 

tell  him  the  truth."  "'''  ''P^"  '"^  "^^'^th  to 

"Nevermind,  Mrs    FiniTini"   t>„  i 

'»cau.e  you're  doing  all  for  the  bel"  "  '"'"■  °"^"y' 

"Ah!  but,  Paul  doar!  I'm  vaitit,'  .   i 
you  see  yourself  what  a  «,wi,  "^  ''""  °°"''  ^n^ 

He's  drunk  mo  t  of  hi.  ,  ■;.  f""  '"'  '"■°"S'"  '""'^^'f  '». 

or  the  other  onlys  ttn'hel"n  °)  ""'""  "'  ""  °°»  """S 
his  life-time  "„'  me  L -  I  ^  '"^  °'  ""'"'■  ^'"'"''  "'"y 
and  mail  ;,  :„dTm  e't'  ;:d  '  '°'"''  °"  "^  "'--- 
and  She  fairly  burou  cX-^'m^r ''""'■  ^^"' '■'- 
death  he',,  get-sudden  and  u^nprovMefbl  f  '  r,""""" 
times  and  you'd  think  there  ^rJnlZptul  T 
hedy  but  What's  up  in  his  head.    ManyaLe  r  t '  ,"  '" 

.no  iithat  b^ghtrbi^a  L  :r  ''vr:L::i\r'"' 


THE   IRlsn    GIRL   IN    AMERICA.  231 

to  himself,  "  huinph  !_ay  r  ifg  abonf  r 

ebance  of  a  change-maybe  T  ...  ''~^  '''  '^'''''  °« 

now "  "      ^""^^^  ^  ^^s  ^''-ong  not  to  do  it  before 

"  Do  what,  Paul  ?" 

»->.vtl.ing  about  it  f„  N™  or  an?^  """'°«-    '^<"'  "'""'»''  ^ay 

».th  her  assurance  that  she  would  Z  ■,  "^  '""'•  ^"* 
of  it,  Paul  strutted  away  L  br  1  ru'V'""™  ""  ">»  '""'I 
"""*  coruing  fancies-''^  du  ,  ;  "f ""  T^"""''"-"  »'* 
^s  plans  and  proiects     v7,T      ^  assummg  shape  and  form 

'on..headed  L^Z.  ZrZ'LT^T'''  '"'"'  »"  '^ 
on  a  grand  design  ^o  wllT    1  .'""''''"■"""«  ^ork 

»»  Kaphae.   or    Michael  An'e  1    to"'  "  """="  ''""•S"t 
conceptions.  ^'"°   '"  ""o  of  their   gi„ri„us 

and  t°Chi:  ::;::;,  j:r>."»  P-^c"  OhVer  street  ,y. 

the  quiet  shadya  en  ottr'oM  r""™^"  '°'°  »»  of 
which  he  soon  reached  DrDe!  °  \®^'^°«'  ^"'!.  following 
His  timid  knock  at  t,  bte"  J:  tor"""'  "'""  '"  ^'°'""^''- 
Who,  Of  course,  was  eyer  so  gad  to  IT ""'"T^  "^  0""^- 
vited  him  in.     No    no    pj,v  1  ■      ''™  """^  "'"''"'^y  in- 

aro„nd.,„o„,huthe'on;™tedt3    'r  "'™'  "''■''  "- 
Langhing  pleasantly  and  savint^,  "^ t     "  "'"''•  ^"*  ""''y- 

his  promise.  OunywIntba^'^sItttBTs:;  """  ^^"™''- 
Why,  goodness  me  Panl  i.  *i,-  ^' 

■•"  '"  said  Bessy  all  in  ',  aZy  ^°''"''"  ^™''  ''o-  come 

»-..i.e':ur;nrr  i^z::xt  '°  "^^- ''™  ^  ^-^ 
yor.rarNtr^ijgr.s'^r^iu-r  '-^ '-  "^- 

O'clock.    Can  you  do  thatr  ^^  """''"'«  '"'O"'  «oven 


"To  he  sure  I  can.  the  mistress  never  refuses 


to  let  mo  out 


232 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


Is  anything  wrong  at  Noel's  r  ^""^  ""  ""^"'  ^^^^  ^ 

"  'Deed  and  there  is  thon     ,^i     j. 
it  »oo„  enough.    Say  noZl^f  ■?  "^  yo„s-b,u  you,,  ,„„„ 
ril  be  biddin'  yo„  -/ood-bve  „f  °     T  °  ""^'  ""'=■  "''"  "nnv. 

;;  rou  may/l,,  n'ordlstpoTnlyr  """■ ''" """^^  °"  ^""•■' 

queerest  creature  livllT'"'         .""'    Ifhe  is.rt  ,bo 

well !  I'd  like   10  l.„„,,  ,,,f,,  fT'-'^'-y  <">»  kno,™  Hat- 
thing  past  the  commr     I  „   IT-.   ."""■'  '''"■  '  ''"  "'^  ^™''- 

tbere.  -plenty  «r„"ru.er"-h'..'at.f"', ''"'-''■'  -^' 
poor  Ally!"  ""   '"^t^  just  it-God  help 

pr"::  t  t^?:t,r:r  rr™'^  -' «-  ^'^  <"  '^<'  .•- 

which  Paur  appeared  to  irelrr"';"''""'  ■■> '"e  business 
and  unhappy  Z  knew  not  w  y  "Hrrt'X"  ^'^  '^"  '™"»' 
moment  and  she  looked  forward  ^r,TT^  '"creased  every 
feverish  impatience  never  Mt  before""'  """'"^  "'*  » 

aay'sbityr  i::''^tn  '"^->- "--".-« 

passed  away,  and  the  l.he-  „      1  ",""  '""'""  "'  "  »•'".  " 
>.oy  so  ea,I;,y  expeeVdtrnlrtt.d™'™"  ""  ""  '"^ 

AuturnnvatterdXrdvi::^!;;:^^" '"- '-  •"« 

»bort.  It  was  a  raw,  cheerle  s  ovenfn  .andT  «""  ™"'"« 
along  Prince  street  after  leaving  «  ."''''>"  ™""'<< 
creeping  over  her    and  „  .    i     °  '""«^'  ""=  ''■»  «  chill 

bardly  a\le  to  mo  'e  "alV "s,;:r  1  ""  ""'  """  '»"  '- 
the  sensation  that  cam  "er  he  at",  T"'"'-'"'  ""'"'"^  '*" 
■■  Lord  save  us  i  I  „f7°  f  '      ■■  *"  "'""'  "■i"'i°  berself  ■ 

maybe  ifs  w     t  I   °T.  ZLf  '"",'"  ''''"'  '■^'"''^">- 
Ho,y  Mother  preserve  m„r  ""  ""  "'"■    '''''"='  «"  "i" 


T"E    IRISH   GIRL    I.V   AMERICA. 


233 

A  low  smothered  lausl,  reached  !,„. 
!"•"  that  she  started  and  looked  1       .!""■  "'  ""  """"""''  »° 
'"  "'or  supposition,  faneifm  as  i,  ,"  '""  "■"  '''"'  """S 

«»  by  her  side,   his        "I  ^^  "  ^';°",""'.  ''''■■  "-y  IForber! 
iook-haif  fend,  hair  mocWn!        °"  ""  """  '"e  strangest 

-M'i«rr;„fet:;""^'  ^°" ««---"  -r  .h„ 

"Did  I?"  he  said  very  softly      '' w.in   •.. 
very  unfortunate,  indeed  Ih.f  r   ^      , ,        '  '^ '  '■'''*'^^''  ''•'^'-'l- 

^'  -  -  Ion.  so  yo^tT^^r  '"'"''''^y^'-  ^"^^h- 
should  the  sight  of  n.;  a  arm "^l"?  "^^f  ^  --  so,  M-hy 
•"e-don't,  I  beseech  you  -    r^'-"^^^  ^'«»'*  '""^  au-ay  f.on. 

«o  you  needn't  fear  me --fea,-  1  '  f  '"'"""''  "'^"'  ^'^•^«>'-' 
If  to  himself,  "  why  shonT,]  Z  ^  ^^Peated  bitterJy,  as 

^^-^i  When  I  ,z:^z  ,-b::::.  !r  "^^ ' '' '-  •"^^'  ^"- 

oseape-no^v,  will  you  fust  listen  to  nieV''  ^'"'''  '''''-  '^ 

"  For  God's  sake  Ma  tor  TT         ?  ^     *"'  ''"^  "^^'"«"t  1" 
-•^  Bessy  i.  .  ^^Z^^^  ^^'^  ^^'^  to  me  at  all;.. 

^or  I  don't  want  Ned's  peon  Lto  «  ''''^'  ^  ^"^^  °^  >'«»' 

tl^ere  I'm  going  now/'  ^      ^°  '""  ^^^  ^'^h  me,  and  it's 

tog'etlL'r  ''  ^"'  ""''''''   -  ^^^--'«  the  harm  if  we  wallc 

to"ni^tu;n:^^/^-C-"^'  "-dagreatharm, 
"  Well  I  m  see  yoi  the,^  ',  «,  ^  '"'  ""^  ^'^^^^'^  "^«  alone.'^ 
!•"  do  as  you  tell  me  B  mtd  l""  :''  ""'  "^^^^^''  "  - 
"'•ght,sonomore  tricks,  BeC' T,T"'.''"^  "^"'  ^«"  this 
Cast.k,  I'll  go  to-morrow  to  Dr  ZS''"  T'^  ^'°"  ""'  ^^^'^ 
will."  '''  ^'^^  -Delany's.-choose  which  you 

"  I'll  see  you  at  Ned's,  then  sir  "  .^n  t? 
sence  of  Mrs.  Finiaan  "  '    ^^^^^  Bessy  hastily,  "in  pre. 


234 


RKSsv  con-way;    or, 


".eant  to  take  .he  C-  .";',.  ,"  "'J. -,"=«-' ,-  if  »» 

Ned  wa,  sUlinT  ?>       ,  "'°"'  '"'""'S™'  Matures, 

waitor  wl,o  in  rttte  i^^    "'",  ""■"-"■'"=•■  '<>  "'o  nimble  little 

Wliat  iviU  you  lal;o,  Mike  1"  said  Pi.il  („  i  • 
paiiion,  as  (!iou"h  th-,t  ,v,      .,  °  ""^  ''"""S  "="">- 

"But  are  I  nee".  ,•  \  ,-  Jl*"  '''™"'  ""J""^'  "^  *"  ™it- 
«.an  icnonad  M,.  Fi'i';;:/"" /"'?,'!  -"""="  ''^■'ger 
t-o  «la.es  Of  t„e  nic^tleror;: ^'JI  '  J";',!,'  ^  ""™ 
.oatecmke.  l,e  ,vc„t  bade  and  wLl^erctUo 7,1  ' 

uul  liessy  come  yet  V* 
"  ^'^^>  yes,  more  than  an  hour  arro      qho'a  «  ;u 
abroad  in  the  little  room."  °  '  ""'^^  "^^  ^"°^^^^ 

;;  Very  good,  very  good.     And  the  other  person  V 

Not  come  yet-husht!  there  he  is  no^v     Be  off  n.  f.  . 
you  can !"  -"^  °"  ^^  fast  as 

ti-e'iZttt^rT^t-:  r-r^'"-™"-  «-^'°^ 

tone  did,  Mister  Herberf  "  ooiri  ah 
there,"  pointing  .„  ,,„X'    ^"^  ^"^  1™%.  "*»•,  inside 

bent'lhfwaulrLdheV"'*  "'■"■  -■"  "  ■"°"'™' •'  -'"  H- 

angryast„nW™eot:lt:^^d'r:,::f-  !"^  "''*"'="'""  " 
to  where  he  thought  Tes  y  was  Ilnn  ,  "T"""'  "'""'  8°'"^  in 
Whom  he  knew  to'be  „:  Mend  „;  h"'  ""  '"""^  ""•  ^-'"'y. 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   ix   AMERICA.  235 

"There's    nothing  yoii   can  winf   f«  .»      * 
Henry,"  »ai,I  B„.y  calmlv    "Lt,ta  7   '°    ""■   '"""«■• 
She's  my  frio„,lan/well.w.lr"  """"'^  "''^"  "''■•• 

^^ '^Ood  ho  knows  tkai-s  true,"  oteer.ed  Bridget  with  a  k:„d 

.,      '      ^''^'  ^  ^^^«  J"«t  heard  of  my  father's  death 

the  trouiie  ol::^:^;^;!:;."!  de'"';  1'"^  "'■■"'^'■""^  ^^ 

Henry !  very  sorry  !"  ^^^  ^  "^  '°'"''J''  faster 

"  So  am  not  I,"  Herbert  replied.     "  There  was  lUtl.  T 

:^:Ti:r::r„™r^-t\r7i^^^^^ 

thA  fanTf  Ta„    r  "imiiierent  SOD.    I  know  not  where 

me  fan  t  Iay_I  suppose  we  all  had  our  share  of  it-h,„  ,h  ! 

our  Lrria;j_a7,:::r.o  rj;rh:ri:r.°r'-'» '» 
r:hXrLtn-S':rh""?-"~^^^ 

niuc,  liessj  !— will  yoii  be  mv  dear  wi fp  i  xviii  „« 
share  my  fortunes  ?_mmd  I  will  never  LIZ  ^  " 

not-oh  !  do  not  refuse  me  now" '  W  ^""/Sa.n-so  do 
held  between  both  his  own  and  llLd  T"1  '''  '^"'  '^ 
as  utterly  forgetful  of  Bri^ett  rten^a  ^7^^  ^"  I'' '''''' 
were  in  existence  Presence  as  if  no  such  person 

J'     luu^n  ner  heart  and  bram  were  throbbing. 


23G 


BESSY   CON-WAV  J     OR, 


'  Lord  l)Ies.s  mo  '  M-i«i>nr  ir 
Of  suol.  things-^.''  "'"''^'  ''''^'  ^  i''^^  for  you  to  talk 

"  Will  yo„  „  .myl7'    f:  "■""  '""^-"'"S  '^"«"™<-o 

'-nd-I  want  .„  lit  Z'-^::'  '"  "  '''"'  --»■  "  >et  go  „,y 

Cndgot  liastonofl  to  brin-r  imr  n     i,   • 

"n-l  ™t  bo  b„lhori„.r  the  doce,'      /  f      ^''  "''°"'  '"'  ''»^">"» 

"Woman!  be  silonM"  v,„       ••."  .' 

'viW  t„at  it  ««hte„e    bX™:;*  :  'T"  ""'  ^"'"-  ™ 
»aid  he  ll.™,bon,ll„„„ver,l™    "  "'■    "''''■■"'•■■'" 

Bionate  entreaty,  .■  Be^,  Ly Tate  a'7  '"'""  "  '''""  "'  P- 
answer-you  may  save  m^  b„,  ^  .'■°''"  '■"l'^"'' on  your 
can  make  me  what  y„„  ",  Lw"^,-""'  '""''  '™'  '•'■"-^<". 
cut  the  only  link  ^i,  J  ^'^  „"  ^      ?  "  """""S-""  "ot 

adrift  on  this  wide  cold  w  riHe  J,"'"","'"  ""'  "™"  "- 
you  will  be  a  lady "  *°  '""""  '»  Ireland— 

better  go  V  ®  '      ^^^^-  ^urpliy !  hadn't  M-e 

tollroLr'"  ''"""""  '-"  «-^-'.  W3  wrath  be.innin, 

4Z  Z  rrd\rfeS":  °"f  1^^^'''  "-■  ""'  «-e 
went  to  his  heart,  it  was  ,e  bl 'jr    "  ""  "''"■  "  '»*  that 
"Bes^yr"  ],„  1-j  •  ""'^^^h'lS,  so  sorrowful 

beIieve7ouc::el!!;'^^^^^^^^^  ^-e,  ^^  I  eannotl.n,  not 

"Master  nenr,r.  saM  L"^.  ^Uhl  'rc^  °^  ^^«  ^^^-•"' 

could  command,  "before  I  could  Vo        ^      "'"P^'"^" ^«  «^« 

there's  many  things  would  have   oh    T'  *°  ^'^'^'  ^^^  ««I^. 
"  What  are  they %"  he  iovfln  ,  '''"'"^  "P'" 

at  this  shadowy  of  hope  "^  ^-^^'aimed,  catching  eagerly 

Before  Bessy  could  answer,  Ally  mad«  T, 
-.  that  Mr.  Bi^on  was  an.ry  ;»  ^^^^^Z^^^:;^  '» 


TIIR    IRISH   nuu.    IS   AWERICA.  237 

"  I'll  see  you  soon  arrain  "  TTori^^.*     i  • 
Ima  into  th„  lar?  r   „!  J    !         °"?  ""'  '""•P''^  '"""wed 

™o,>,  too.  t.„,'  .e:rr:t,:,zx tt.,;:;,'^; -^ «"  ">- 

Ills  yoiiiiK  friend,  their  Iem„„.„i  !  "'  "" "S  »'"' 

happened  that  a     ho  ™„r    ,."  """"'""'  "'"■'"■•'  '"™>-    "  "o 

>.« -ic,  With  an  „„„atura,  attompnl  .aier."'  "  ™""  """■ 
■ef.w:Tho„Mha;r  ""'  "°  "^^  '"'"'■"'  '".  *at  before  »„ 

^r:;:;rt,:tLt':i^"°  -.-or.  a.  ,.,,„., 
-t :» 1  irrzr  :rh  r.^^'.  ----  -  - 

you?"  *^         ''^^''"  ^«a;    "you're  there,  are 

,u;i;T;:ir;7„r'otrr;e"^"''  "'"••"--^  »•-" 

wish  for  him  than  I  haro."  J«""-«'/-has  a  groator 

"  ^'"u'lo  a  bitter  old  coon  "  ei.vi  w.  .     . 
left  the  room  '  ""'""■'  consciously  as  he 

::p-'«*i::.---^^"-"^-^S: 

"He's  on  the  hook"RT;rl  i,»     <i 
Herbert  has."  '        "^  ^'''     '^^  ''^'^^  ^  Ane  take  Mr. 


388 


WESSY   CONWAY  ;    OR, 


"«1  to  Mister  I,.  „e,,    o^tltllTl'  '°°'  '"'  """  ''"■»  =» 
•"•■»  to  turn  Ms  back  on  k^"      "  '""'^  """  ''«■•■")■  oxpecl 

""-"u';s?!ritr:;t™v^^^^^^ 

"  Why  I  want  fn  I  "^  ^''*'''®  cosherin'  ?" 

What  do  you  say  that  for-?"  asko.l  ♦>.      t. 
bnstling  up.  '     '''^'^^  ^^«  shrewish  matron 

"yVhy,  I'm  sure  Mr  ITnrhr^vt  *%, 

Every  eye  wa/turned     -  Paf;T:T  °  '7^«  '"^et,..-.- 

ins  S-.ure  at  !„•„,,  a»  tl,o„:.h  to L  "  „  n        '  "■"""  "  "'>^'^- 
yoii!"  "oUiosay.    '  Do  your  worst-I  defy 

'■WJiatdoyoumean  bv  tint?"  c«-i  i.t  , 
«3  ...  was,  cat.,,,  the  J:J:':IZ^^^'-  "'■  '"'"^' 

ire  »im?i5  to  crack  a  joke  "  sa?rl     '   ^^•^"- 
are  rather  bUter  for  n,ost;e':;,;:;i^;:^"'  """'  "'^  ^•■"'- 

^aid  Paul  rrnta.''rS  I^hif."  •""'""-  »''••  ""■"ert!" 
'■  tie  nigM  you  give  Luky  M^m       1'°  '^'^  "'"  ''"  ""  *»■ 

ofEooseveltandChlthamo  '  ",'        "'°  ""'»''■  ^'  ">e  come; 

""""  over  two  years  ago  1" 


int  mis„  ,,,„,,  „  j„K„,^^ 


239 


"on't  moan  A,,  Ti'"],,  ™';.,;;';';'!.  «Xing  up  a  liUlo.     •■  Vou 
eavo  that  money  forLL'  ''°  ^vorW-aI,em !  what  he 

a.;  :^r:::r :-:::— ,----... 

♦'<?")   I  m  .sorry  to  lionr    ir..  t      .  ' 
Jngly.  "that  you  ifaa.nvrr/V    •'''"''''  ^^'^^  ^''^'^^^  f--^''tat- 
va.abon,I."  '"^  ''^^•^^■^^'^«'   ^^  that  ill-condUionod 

"Knowledge  of  him!"  e^cl  '  .,>^   p     ,      ., 
havin-  knowledge  of  l^r.^'^^^.^Z^''^       ''  ''  ''''  °"'^ 
^^ouf  it,  for  I  know  the  paJorLT  '""  '""^^  ^  ''O'^ 

in  Ireland,  and  as  Mrs.  Murnh;  to!  ""'  '  .'""^'  """^'^^  ^^  ho'"" 

"1  It  that-r  want  you  to  hear  Zf  ""'^  '  ^  ''"'«  ^e^^ret 

M.-.  irerbert  won'ftell  .s    •    ,^77,,'   f "  ""^  ^-^^--     As 
Mike!  my  man,  I  believe  Jrr.n  '^  '""'^'^'*  *''^^  "''"• 

-'-t  you  heark  passi  .  a    t     I  7;'  ?  ""  ^'"'^'^     ^^^  "« 
and  Luky  Mulligan !"  "^  ^^^"'"""  ^^'^''^  gentleman 

"Ned  Finijian'"  rt,M   Tr«  u    x 

Mo  i«  .oin;  somewhat  I??:  Tc''^  ?'  "^^'''""^  "^''^ 
that  you  would  allow  „,e  to  beVnlu  T  '"^  ^  ''^^"'^  ^^P^^' 
your  presence."  "'"''^^  '"  ^our  house  and  in 

"Well!  it's  not  mv  wish     \r,    w    ,. 
embarrassed,  "nor  neitler  i,     "         ."""  ''''^  ^'^'  ^""^h 
-an  that's  doin'  it  al    yo"     e    ,7     "''~'''  *^- ^ool  of  a 
playin'. "  '  ^"^^  '^^"'t  s  some  of  his  pranks  he's 

^"Qoon,  Mike!"saidPauT 

"  ^'''"^  '"^^^'ay  from  here,  Dixon  '"  «,n?^  w    ., 
nervous  excitement,  "  I  shinV  1'  H^'-^ert,  m  a  state  of 

Dixon  stood  up  but  beir,?.       ^  ^  ""^'"'"'  '""^^'••" 
1-  pretended  to 'lol^fri^r;,;;^^^^^^^^ 

^here  it  was.    Meanwhile  l.f:.:l??"£'  ""T'"'  '''^  ^^-" 

" ""  '■^•"'"g  ^J'at  had  passed 


240 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


indignation.  ^    ^'^'\  exclamations  of  surprise  and 

"Mr.  Herbert!"  cried  Ned     "  Arr    tt    i     .  ^ 
Herbert  ,,,,  „„  ,„„^  ^„  _^;^^^.  ^^/^-/"■'"t  do  Ihatl-Mr. 

There's  for  vou!"  said  All V  "  t\       ,    . 
io  yo„  think  „f-„,at  now' .^  '^'        "'  "  '"^  '""'■  ""■" '— »»' 

set  't'ti, ';;  ;:":e;u":„7:f  t-"'  '',""■"  ■■-'=---'  '''=<'■ 

■■  «»  Wack-UropCInr;:::^^;'::;",;,  ■-;'«-''e^  1='  at  bin,. 
»kin-flint  of  a  father  ho  I,ai  ?„  ,  .  ^°°"'  "''  "■»  «''M 
Ned !    Oh  !  the  curso  of  a  w7    ■  f^"""  '''"'  '"■  "  ^'^»  ••>» 

7.«.M„rph/ja;rh::r:^::^i;:°r-''7"!" 

make  her  sit  down  a^ain '■  t„      ,,  ?'  Bessy  trjing  to 

man  now  when  he",  dead 'it  T        '"?""  '""■"  »'  '""  <"« 
enongh  you  „ay  hi  sure  .~  "'  "°"  '  ^■""  '  *'  "'^^'>  •"•<> 

.ook;:rrr:;:n:rh'srar"" -r' " "  -^  ■""•  ^-  -^  ^""-d 

„„;,?'  '"■"  ""^^''■'  "=  «-'  »ave  such  gee,  ,„„  „f  y„„, 

"My  name  is  Mike  Milligan,  Mr.  Herbert i"  .,-.,  ,v    ■ 
"■edeslly,  yet  with  an  air  of  selflrespec    "  I  '      .,       ""^  ''* 
boy,  vendinj,  He  jp^,-,    „  ^_^, ,'  ""P""^''     '  «s  then  a  news- 
sir  !-no,v  n„  ,  ,wv  •  ""'t^-™''  ">»ny  a  one  I  sold  y„„ 

tba„,.toth^rae  rvrjodtdte'r™ ;- "'-' »'-' 

Brannlgan "  "       ^'^'^'''®  ^^  "^^  «^^ar  fnend  Paul 

-:n:;;i:^sX::r':;t:r,:^e^-'r*'' 

days  for  your  special  benefit -  '^""^  °^  "^^«« 

"I  wouldn't  if  I  were  von  "  coM  htm 
^  I-P  your  .oney.  si^  Co.I    n^^L-l^^^J^j;  ^-- 
old  woman  to  say  a  prayer  for  you."      "^  ^  ^'^  '^""^ 

"  Very  well,  >^y  Jad  I  verv  wpII  i     tmi  i 
depend  on  it."  ^      " '    ^  "  '^'^^^  '"^  eye  on  you, 


TheXTof  Iml^ZMt'"'^.  ""'■'"='  indifference, 
exclamations  Of  „„  o.C  «r"  "f,,™"''  ""*  '"»  ™'io.» 

™  concentrating  hi,  thou:h"s  for  f       ?°''"'  ""^  ^^d-    »'» 
but  what  with  the  an^er  and  M       *    ""  ■"""*  »°  Herbert, 
^"en  imbihing,  he  coutd  tZ"''Zn'°'  """^  '«  ha, 
Ho  'tood  „p  a„a^„,,^  an  attLT,    ,"r"'  i-'-^liisib'-. 

eyes«tarting  fr„,„  their  socket  Si     ..*  '"^  ''''«''.  W» 
«e'ght  of  his  Moated  body  a„d  1  it    T^  '"'""'•"^  ""^"^  ""' 

"  Mr.  Herbert  !■■  said  he  L.wt  "'"  '"'"'» '■''""''""S. 

""■•d,  "Mr.  IIerbcrtr„w ir  "."""''""'""i-g'"  et-ery 
jj^-for  a  ftie„d-Chi  Xr",  ,t°  ''""  '"'  "'  '  ^  '""^ 
iWttll'B.Ws  friend  you  ,vii        ,•  '™"8-i'  was  Inky 

•houghtyou  weroag^ttaar,;  fr  """"  ^'^^  ">'•"-! 
Plainly_y„a,„  nosuci,  hto°'  v  ,"'"-^"' •'-">"  I  W,  yo„ 
«•>;  Of  ffly  house  !■.  '""'S-you're  a  scoundrel,  sir  J-get 

Very  ungrateful,  'pen  ho,!t  "  '^     '    '■■•  ^'"'S'"'  '■" 
J-o-  thanks,  nerbe;t,X        h    n^^'^'^"  "'■"»"•     "  ^Lafs 
,    "  And  ail  the  hours  I  end    'd  T      ''  '""  ''"""  *"■■''  '" 
temptnously  to  Ned  "all  1,1  company,"  pointing  con- 

--« >   no  u,atter.'  Di^'T  "CZ^  '  """^"^  "^'"ed  to 
bave  my  reward."  '  "'"  'anguage  of  Scripture  I 

"  What's  that !"  said  Ne.t  „•„ 
,   "  K"K»a. ,..  cried  h!;,;";:  ™"f>  «»»i'  »f  animation, 
looked  around  ,vi.h  the  smi.lf  /   ""^     «■='--"•'"  and  he 
Paiouith  H.O  intensity  Of  ™  ",„"'"  """"S  demon,  bis  face 
figure  of  the  Landlord.  '      '"'  """"""i '»  «'»  ungainly 

"  Blessed  Mother '" 
without  heeding  her  CCrt'!";''^ ''°"™^ '''''"' death , 
others  to  keep  s°Ie„t  '"'  <"''  """"l  motioning  to  the 

-de  a  show  of  m'e  beZe  ^  „" ^tZ'^l'^''^  !"!  «- day  h'e 

J,     I-a-e.^.,,,  or  lin^  Garric/c. 


242 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;     OR 


"mb''ln.^rr'T™''^  °"  every  feature  and  on  every 
™1I  If  I  dfdu'  TatTv'o  '°  'rJ  ''^"^  Herbert-alas!  ;:^ 

o-.vn  pleasant  thoughtslarfor  von      t  ^'"  "^^  '"  ^'''' 

dark  scowl  of  hatred  "  ..^0.  '  ""^  ^'  Paul  with  a 

^>i  01  nauea,     as  for  yow— your  time  will  come  »" 

I  defy  you  !"  said  Paul  calmly  and  flrmlv      T  , 

me  no  harm  whilo  T  wnit  •    ,,       ^  ^"^  ^'"^^y*     you  can  do 

lord  l„„k  t„  hhn  this  day  r  '"'°''  ■""  """"■•    The 

"  Ton  may  mil  say  that,  Paul !"  said  Ned  ftllm,  l,.i  >     , 
■nto  In-s  scat,  and  looking  all  the  miservVw  ,      ,     ""^'P'^^'y 
.ot  express ;  "Vm  do..  Pa.  .  rm  don ''       "   ^"^"''  """ 
a  creature  on  God-s  ea,tl  l-^lecro'Ti;;  "T"'"'^"''''""' 
I'utoh!  what  did  I  do  ,„,.'"'°"S'""'''»s'>'S  revenge  1- 

done  to  me  •    I  don  t  bh„     i     '  T"'"'^  "'"'  ''*"  •>«  ha, 
it  to  „e  many  a  .tae-hu;?,!!  '  hi    tt  therl'"'' 

-=-:,rhutr;°^-"-- 

he "    "«'.>«""    Id  gn-e  all  I'm  worth  in  the  world  to 

^^fZX^Z^:^-'"-"""^""^^-'"  put  in  Her. 
"Take  him  awav!"  said  Npd    "♦^t-«  i,-„       .    „ 


THE    IRISH   GIRL   IX   AMERICA. 


243 

Orwherbacktoherseae     Hi!  n!"      '""«'"  ^^  *»"<•  'nd 
«■><!  startM  erery  „„e  p^se '!     ,f  '""f  "^  ™««>--  lingular 

»'•«",  sit  down  and  make  v„„r„7'  '■"■''^'''  "id  Mr. 

■'e  »  »-eat  hand  at  teUint  sCi^  ™  "'"?*'""•    ""=*  '» 
of  <>  good  one  „„„,  it  wo^ld  pur;o,     r''^  "  '  """"  ">'"k 

0-  looked  and  ^noClZr^tT'lr,  '"""'"" 
the,T  oar,,  and  so  strange  waa  the  nronn' ■,      "  ^'""^''  ''="«™ 
■>«■■  in  which  it  wa,  made  H  at  IT-  I  "■'"  '"'^  ""'  "■=»" 

lieartny,  declaring  that  th^  dtrfh  fd"'!:?'  '"•™"  '""S"^'' 
li'ey  both  sal,  and  Herbert  ranned  it  .  ,        ''  '""""■    ^'""' 
"Tbe  story  by  all  mean    X"l  ,t  "  f"  ""'--"'«  I 
nod  and  nodded  and  cleared  h"  hr  a    *  '      "^  '"  '"''"'  S''°- 


244 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;    01^ 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Just  as  Paul  was  about  to  commence  his  story  the  waiter 
knocked  at  the  door  to  say  that  Tom  Cassidy  and  old  Mrs 
Sheehan  were  outside  and  insisted  on  being  let  in  with  the 
rest. 

"Is  there  anybody  else?"  asked  Paul  through  the  key- 
hole.  ' 

"Nobody  only  Teague  Moriarty  from  near  Ardflnnan  " 
"They're  all  welcome,"  said  Paul  applying  the  key  to  the 
lock. 

"Bad  manners  to  you,  Paul!"  said  Cassidy  as  they  en- 
tered,  "is  it  makhi'  masons  you  are,  or  what,  that  you  lock 
the  door  on  yourselves  V 

"  Ask  us  no  questions  and  we'll  tell  you  no  lies,"  said  Paul 
curtly;  "sit  down  all  of  you-Mrs  Sheehan,  ma'am,  here's 
Bessy  and  Rlrs.  Murphy  and  Mrs.  Finigan-come  in  here  to 
the  corner,  there's  room  for  you.  Now,  Mr.  Herbert !  I  know 
you're  a  good  warrant  to  treat  people— here's  a  nice  little 
company  of  us  now,  most  all  from  your  own  place  at  home— 
what  are  you  goin'  to  do  for  us  ?  a  gentleman  like  you  ought 
to  have  an  open  hand." 

The  cutting  irony  of  these  remarks  made  Herbert  wince. 
"  That  back  of  yours  stands  you  in  g uod  stead,  if  it  weren't 
for  it  you  should  have  your  answer  pretty  quick." 

"  Paul !"  said  Ned  in  a  voice  quivering  with  anger,  "I'll  not 
stay  here  if  /je's  in  tlie  room." 

"  'Deed  an'  you  will,  then,  Ned!"  said  Paul,  "  to  oblige  me 


THE   IRISH  GIRL   IN  AMERICA. 


245 

S  Z'tZ^"'  "  ""'"'  ^  »  -"-  »o.  for  r.  8„i„,  ,„ 

"Botheration  to  vou  i"  m,ui       i   ,. 

tliinkyon,"  "'"'"''"»  "age  whisper.    "  Shall  we  stay, 

<l.e  drr";Vlyrl^f-^,;„^f"«.''-'''  "'"»  Po-«"S  10 

«ory  toM  under  .uehl.I/!!'  "''"'""•  ''"'''"-  '»  "oar  «« 
say  so.  ""="'"  "■■omstances,  but  he  did  not 

smUe^:"d  Ll7bacri„"",r:r","^*=''  »•*  -  eare,e. 
'ooked  rou.d  witS  an  ai  half  iTJ" 'f  ^^  '"'  """■  ""^ 
■carefully  avoiding,  however  Ihl  T  .  f '  """^  """'^P'uous, 
-J,*nt  and  as  it'seerer.ltoS'™'"'-  """'  """»  ''^^ 

"  I  rl«"  r'tlinkr:  f""- '""'  ''''  """'"^  '»  '"•»  ««.a. 

"aiti-irforanoldcrazypa"   t  Tl'f  "'  '"*''""■■-"  "-J 

"I  b'h-evoi^a  ShoslC rntl  'tr-  '",  . 
kis  eyes  on  the  ceilin-  as  tho„  J  If  ^  '  '""'  '^'"''  "^'"S 
«ig.>s  there  to  aid  his  C  y ""^,  ""V^"  -«»  cahalisti^ 
-"ost  of  his  auditors  were  and  mu  T.  T"^  """  "»='''""  as 
^'ories,  there  w.,  soJewli  /<  "*  :  "'"-"  ^or  hearing 
«-e,r  attention,  and  they  listened  it  """""'  "»'  '"''''o'i 

""happened  in  a  place  at  ,  "^  ^"'"- "<>' '>%• 
resumed  Paul  "  that',  iLZ  ^l      ™'  ""^  J"""  ''""'v  wll  ■■ 

,.  Why.  to  he  ^ur:::^'  „r,t^:rr'  °'"''"'""»-" ' 

t«on  was  doubly  excited      vJ'T\'  ^""^'^  ^°«'«  ^"en- 

sJiaking  olFa  drowsy  fit'  "''"''''^  himself  like  a  do<. 

-;j«:7-oru:r-:,,rr.''--.uo«^^^^^^^^^^^ 

interrupt  C:/"l',:r  L"':!:  T""","''  '-»"-■  -^  ^^.-t 
-at.  the  very  reason Zt^ruJ^  h^  ^ .!,  ^^  ^"' 


-stri^An 


246 


BESSY    COXWAY  ;     OR, 


Co?tfounfI 


i!"  saul.  Herbert  an trrilv  "rfn  vn»  «ti  -  r 

the  whole  countrv  for  ^-  ^"f '  "^'    '' ''^or  that  was  over 

.wiuie  country  lor  miles  rcnnd  in  n  v;..y1  ♦«  *»,„ 
used  to  be  heard  in  fhn  i  r,  ?  ^'*^"'^'  ^^  "^e  "O'so  that 

_  uc  nearci  m  the  lonesome  place  wi<Are  <aei',  ua  n'f  « 

<l.!a<l  old  mon',-..  ,>h  ?"  °  '"''"=  '™'  •""  "-e 

dead  I.„„r  o  "H,t  f  ITr  '",",  "'"'"'  ""'  '"""^>' "'  *» 

.0...  «  .0  „a.o  the  ha,>  of  o?;:-',!"  ^    re"?""^'"'"' 

'Remember    t!"  cried  Tpirrn^  nr    •     "^  ""  ^""' 
rM.M  „,,.,r  t.ere,  one^'.^Ml":/!: ^'plr/;™'/"'  ^ 

Abbey."  '  *"'  ■"■""S"'  >"  ™  sight  of  the  onld 

H.M;p''--et,„^^^,^^^^^ 

a  srand  illumination  in  it."  "'^'■®  ^*« 

"Ila!  ha!  ha !— ho '  hot  hni  ,v,.^  r, 
Herbert  laughed  vocL:;iy;^;A;Ht"of:^^ 
windows  !-why   man    thorly.      ^  ^^'""^  °^  ^'^ht  through  the 
ages."  '         '    ''"'^  ^"'^  '^  ^«^»  ^  ^indo^v  there  for 


"  No  matter,  Mr.  Herbert!  it's  all  the  same  "  said  P.„i  .< 
W  what  Teague  means,  and  I'm  sure  h's^e  1  ng  tre  U  7^ 
for  I  often  saw  the  light  myself."  ^  '^' 

"  ^''0  you  in  earnest  1" 


"  Meed  I  a„,  Mr.  irorb,.,-M 
"■kins  about  U  to  Billy  V,U    T        '""'"  ""  ""•"  """  I  m  « 

-.or  „to„e..  "«„,!  r.^o'l^:,^;-  "-""t  ..a«M  t,„ 
'"f:  "7- P'°"'"B  against  ...ogl^'^:  '•™ps -vit„  thoir  „„ad., 
■nw-ha!  hal  hal"  Enosts!-  down  amonj  the  dead 

loading  o^iy^™«^°'"  '"M  ^"ywith  hreallles,  eageme,,, 

;t;^-'^e1i'^^^^^^^^^  «.ey.  indeed,    ,. 

St-  Finian's  Church."  "*  ^^^'P  ^'alch  by  night  in 

V/iiTist  save  iisr'__«T^  ,  ,,    'v -^oits! 

««e;  Paul!  what  d;d  you  Tet    .7  T,     "^"'  ^^^^^  did  you 
DolJy  Sheehan.  ^  "  ''"'  ^^*°^«  ^"    This  last  was  fro,^ 

"  Did  you  see  Ihe  black  dnrr  7-.      , 
Pa-I  paid  little  attention  to,      "'^'^  "°^*^«'-- 
around  him-the  we   dtli^        ''"''*  -^clamations  of  those 
-or  his  own  strange  1;^^^^^  "'^"  '^"^^^  ^^  ^-od^?: 
;-m  the  grave  of  ^anish^^d  ye,"  'T7  "^  '^'"^  «^^P- 
«-^ed  on  vacancy  yet  gr.duallv  v'   if    '""^  ""'"^  ^'«  ^^^all  eyes 
^r^ohond  bent  forward  anl.fs^/ "^'^^  ^"^'^^^  Are,  hi 
f  -  ^hin  pale  lips  were  CL    nd"t   ."f  "^  '^^  ^'^  ^-e 
'ons  motion  yet  they  gave  fo^th  no  '"'^''"»  ^''^^  a  tremu- 
fi-^ed  on  him  but  no  one  venturl,  ?        "^^    ^'''^  «^«  ^as 
;-got  his  levity,  and  sat  sUenZt  ITT'    ^^''^  «-^-t 
'^0,  and  appeared  ill  af  ease    ".."'''    ^"  ^^^«  P^^e 
n^ost  intently.  '^'"'  ^^^^^Wng  Paul's  countenance 

"  What  did  I  see  V'  g„f  j  p 
speakh,g  very  slowly,  ■•  ,  saw'^teTd^'"  .?"'"»"  "'■'  ''^»''  "1 
was  a  dark  dull  night  ,•„  the  h!       I      "  '  "P^=' '«  »«.    It 

-If  wentup.0  the  Ab  ey  audaT     •""  "'^'  ='"^  and  ^ 

^"  '"''  «  ionesome  tramn  ..  ,...  .  . 


248 


BESSV    COKWAV;     OB, 


e>o„  ,„  <l,>j.l,g,,t  what  a  placo  it  i,  „„  aecount  of  tho  ,"eZ 
moetn,  overhead  and  the  hig  bJack  rock,  that  look  a,  if  ,|,ov 
«^ro  ready  to  fall  a-lop  of  yo„.    Myself  r„U  a  little  da,„„..d 
»he„  ,ve  go   to  the  old  Abbey  and  seen  it  Blandiu'  up  between 
U.S  and  the  sky,  and  indeed  it  was  only  the  i,M  of  it  „•„  0^1 
ee  th,,n„,    the  thick  darkno,.,.    Billy  trudged  along    .,  .„ 
nted  as.f  he  wa.,  walk,,.' down  the  street  and  the  MenJ, 
an  »h,n,n'  over  him,    Billy  never  kne,v  what  fear  was.    11 ' 
™s  so  used  to  diggin.  down  among  the  dead  and   handlin' 
the,    white  bones  that  he  wasn't  a  bit  afeard  of  them  and  I 
didn't  care  to  let  him  know  that  /  was  either 

"Well!  when  we  got  to  the  Abbey  there  wasn't  a  thing  to 
be  seen  barnn'  the  great  black  wall,  and  the  trees  about  then" 
hak,ng  ,„  the  wind,  for  it  was  hlowin' a  little  at  the      ,e 
Od  guard  us  Billy  1'  say,  I,  ■  isn't  it  a  lonesome  place  ,1,    r 
Its  a    ,u,et  place.,  says  Billy  back  again,  'a  brave  quiet 
1  lace_I  see  no  sign  of  Ihem  yet-'  who,'  say,  I,  •  „.,,,.  the  „  c 
nts/ ,ays  B  lly,  'maybe  they'll  not  stir  out  the  nigh,  U'   "o 
dark  and  d.smal.'    Billy  laughed  but  /  didn't  la^gh  for 
made  the  ha.r  stand  on  my  head  to  hear  him  talkin' ihLt,  a 

sh  T  l'^r:r'  '"  »"^"  -  P'^^-  ■»■'--  are  w-  g  t "  ■ 
shelter,  B.lly  V  says  I  to  him,  •  wc  can't  slay  here  lonf  unl.s^ 
we  get  under  cover,  for  I'm  thinkin' the  weather  is'oi"' to 
Change.'  We'll  see,'  say,  Billy,  -  maybe  we  wouldn  t  Ze  o 
»y  long,  bat,  at  any  rate,  I  think  I  know  a  place  wher  we 
can  have  a  new  of  the  im^ide,  and  bo  in  ,helte,-  too  Wtol 
was  a  httle  fellow  I  spent  many  an  hour  amo,g  these    uins 

o7d  r"  ^"' ■'■""'  '  °"'="  "''^  '"  °'  -  Sunday  to  see  he 
old  place  and  sit  awhile  among  the  quiet  dead  I  have  a 
great  w,sh  for  the  dead,  Paul!  espaycialiy  the  monks   hatl 

awhr"V°'f,°°^  """  "'^"^  '"  ""'W''""'  I  »"-    pel 
awhde  p.ckm'  the  rubbish  and  the  weed,  from  about  S 

ombstones,  an'  when  I  meet  any  bones  lyin'  about  I  gatto 

'!.em  „p  and  pile  them  all  together  for  fear  some  ofTem 


THE    IRISH  GIRI.   m   AMERICA. 


249 

tnight  belong  to  the  monks  or  thn  nhi... 

holy  people.     If  it  was  dayl  Jt  P  u P  rt    n  '?"  ''  ''^^"^ 

you-a  nice  little  pile  right  in  it         T^  '^'"^  "'""^  ^^ 

-here  the  alUr  used  to  Stat/  .llr^^^^^         ^'^^  ^^^^"^^^ 
says  I  back  to  him   'but  iv?'  «  ^""^^"^  to  you,  Billy!' 

heap  of  dead  men's'bones.'"         '''°"  ""''  '"^'^^'"^  ^^««  ^«  * 

I'll  break  your  bones"  Kairi  ij,.-t.    x 
don't  either  get  on  with  ^  Zryo'tZl  TT''  "  "  ""' 
out!"  "^'^^  ^"^  <^P®n  the  door  and  let  us 

"  Have  patience,   Mr    ITprh^,.^  u      . ,   „ 
getting  on  finely,  s/r !  whe  e  was  '.-^if.  '^"^  ^'^  '    "  ^'"^ 
bones-well!  Billy  laughed  rLv^^f  \       ""'  ^  ''^'  ^'  "^« 
anyhow,  we  wa  Jd  ro;:;\re  S^t  U  le  "^' ''^*' '"'' 
place  vrhere  it  and  the  Abbey  joined  and  Bil.  "T   *'  ''' 
a  narrow  passage-in  the  waill  thTnk  -f       ^     ""^  ""^  ^^^"^ 
flight  of  stone  Bt«ps-he  had  t^  l^^M     T""''^  "^  *  ^'"'« 
way,  myself  not  knowin'  wher.  ^  """  ^^  '^"  "™  ^"  *he 

Jast  he  pushed  me  down  aid  I  fo  T  '"''  ''  ^"^  "^^  ^^^^^t 
stone  bench,  and  <^TJl'r^;Z7ZT  T'  ^"  ^ 
was  an  opening  before  us  liJ  !  ?'  "^"^  '^^  *^*t  there 
'if  there's  any^thingl  be  seen  hTe T  '•'''"'' ^^^«  ^"^^ 
Paul!  sit  there  now  Z'itTfZT^^  "'^^*'  ^^'"  «««  ^t, 
get  a  drop.' "  '        '^  '*  '^'"^^  «"  '"omin'  we  wouldn-; 

''  I  suppose  it  wa    u;i:l"tSr''  '""'^  °^  ^^"^'*-' 
crows!"  ^         ^®  ''^^^'^y  yo»»  were,  among  the 

"Ha!" 
-no,  though  not  ve  ™high  it  fl  j      ^f  "'"•"'  ""'"  "■" 

-^we„ca.„g  „ou.ru„/a.„;g:frtrrz  ci';: 


250 


•^ay;   or, 


in   the  villai;,.  below     n  ,  f    '"3""'""'  "V  lilHo  ">on. 

wason ;i*cj:  i;,:,^::'; ""' ""'- -■-"-,'«" ".« 

care  <„  lell  Bill.  h„„.  i  «(.        '  "  "'  °"''  "•""  '  ^'"^"'^ 

"  •  I  lliink  we're  „„ly  |„,i„.  „„  t,„,„  ,,j  ,  , 

'  We  both  «nf  n  f  '        '^  ^'  ^'^y*'  ^'«-'  ^'«ten !' 

hear  i  „„i.r  through  the  darkness.    I  did 

d  n  „,;rerd "°"°';' "" "°  """^ '«-' «' "-", ' 

one  fr/n!  H  •  "'""'""-"d  Billy,  and  his  voiee  sounded  like 

do™  :;:Zhe  iir-z'^i^^j^^  t  «>- "  --  ^  "o,..a 

think  I  saw  1"  ""''  '^'°"''  »"■'  «•'»'  do  you 

w;i™ith:::::rert:r"«- 

I'Bnmstoneyourgrandmothe,        ri      Herbert. 
And  (i^rnres  were  there  in  ti     sh      „f  ^ 
with  a  pointed  hood  on  his  L,  l    '  .,'    ,  "'  "'='•  ™o 

■out  hi™  like  What  z:onZ'::t:^zrLT-'''' 

«nnn,„.  and  ,an,„in.  a.  one  another  and  jalLriike'^Tn^: 


"'"  m«n  om,,  ,„  ,>„„„^ 


1  "^  '"  '""""■If,  "can  r  Pvo-  f   °  ;    ,       ■  ^"'■''•'"MMho 

J^o-thc,  on  th,  d,.,i  „::",„'"  ""'  «  P»ok  „f  ,„,,  „,^ 

"■at  lAowind  roso  t„  a  I,„„      "    "■"  "''olobmldin..     With 
•••sain  wm,  every  „„,,  an,  r ,?"'"'""'  """"''  «an,  .,  „  1 

bo""-."  laughed  l„„d„  „„a  ,"  ™'  '";■"■  '"'»'•'>,  I...t  .be  ,I,i„<^ 
■*     •■«.  and  dealt  H,e  o"  rd,    nd  k        "'"'"'  "'^  -^'^  '"  ""ll 

Tie,  of     rror  „ere  I,e„d  on        ^^  '°  "'"'■■" 
'  "■'  ««ag,         ,„.,  story     A Vl    7  "'"''' "'"'"  ?"„!  reached 

'.«  n  h...  .eat  and  laid  his  hand  o"  Pa! r?"'  "'"""'^  J"»Pod 

Maybe  they  weren't  dead  at  „n  ,"      ^'"''''^'• 
'■•Pooredan:do„,lyi„.„ ,;;;!«,;''"  "'■"  "ondln,  ,or„,„„ 

There  were  darfc  ,1^.-  '^^' 

»aid  Bridget  Mnrp.y  "Ts'J"''"'  ""  "■"•"'  ">o  ,a„,e  time  • 
"•a' here."    She  lo'ol^d  o.'LT"  ~"'"  ""'  ^'">  "-at  "he 

,hndde.        ''"^""""---"-^.-.ohunchba...^,,., 

Ihey  were  ffha^ ' /r  in  iv    ^ 
^  •■  Tho  strange;  tb4'"„  ■'^/,:'-':>  "l;-"'^,"  .■      in  Herbert 

-ere«  dead  face,_yo^d, wear    1        '^''"'' ""  '  ">«  face, 
'"oy  talked  a,  natural  a.  11^.         ■  """'  '"  '""'>'■  men,  and 


^;' 


252 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"  I  should  like  to  have  heard  them,"  said  Herbert  with  an 
air  of  incredulity  ;  •  I  daro  say  you  woro  nodding  asleep  and 
dreamed  all  that.  Could  you  favor  vis  with  a  little  of  the 
conversation  V 

The  ironical  smile  on  Herbert's  lip  disappeared  before  the 
keen  sf -utinizing  glance  which  Paul  turned  on  him.  "  I  can," 
said  ho  with  startling  abruptness,  "  I  can  favor  you,  Mr.  Her- 
bert! The  one  that  dealt  the  cards— he  sat  right  fornenst  me, 
by  the  same  token — laughed  as  ho  flung  them  to  one  and 
another,  and  says  he ;  '  Now  for  the  cash.'  " 

"  Ha  !  what  more  V 

"And  with  that  he  th'-ew  down  a  bright  gold  piece — on  the 
crown  of  a  hat,  Mr.  Herbert !  set  right  on  the  bones,  and  says 
he,  laughing  louder  than  over,  '  If  the  old  fellow  at  home  saw 
that  now,  he'd  have  all  the  police  in  Ardflnnan  after  u.s  to 
hunt  up  his  gold — but  I'm  bound  to  win  it  back  this  night,  or 
I'll  bid  good-bye  to  the  Abbey  !'  " 

"  Ha !  ha  !  ha  !  a  likely  story !"  sneered  Herbert.  "  A  pretty 
fellow  for  a  monk  !" 

"  'I'm  about  tired  of  tho  joke,'  said  the  same  speaker," 
Paul  went  on.  "  '  Confound  you  for  a  coward  !'  said  another, 
'  there's  no  spunk  in  you.'  " 

**  It's  a  lie,"  cried  Herbert  starting  to  his  feet,  his  eyes  flash- 
ing fire ;  "  it's  a  lie." 

"  What's  a  lie,  sirl"  asked  Paul  drily.  Every  eye  was  in- 
stantly turned  on  Herbert  who,  sensible  of  his  error,  threw 
himself  again  into  his  cliair  and  forced  a  ghastly  smile. 

"  Excuse  me,"  he  said  in  a  husky  voice,  "  I  meant  to  .  , . 
that  your  story  is  altogether  improbable — a  regular  Mun- 
chausen affair — eh,  Dixon  1" 

Dixon  only  nodded,  he  was  deeply  interested  in  the  story, 
and  his  eyes  were  riveted  on  Paul.  There  was  a  sort  of  half 
smile,  however,  playing  about  his  moustached  lip  that  Herbert 
did  not  like. 

"  Go  on,  Paul !  go  on !"  said  Ned,  "  I  hear  people  in  the 
other  roonij" 


THE    IRISH   OIRL   m   AMKnrOA. 


253 

hear  a  ,v„r,l  „„.  and  „„  cli„"l'  '''"■■"  ""-"">  -«  could 
""O"'-  After  „  nttlo  they  Cafl  1?,"?  '°'"'°  '"  "'  '""« 
tlioir  dice  n„d  the  MuJ„ZZ  f>  ?  ""'  ™  "'"'■■  «"■''»  »'"» 
'y.3  were  starling  from  i  wA  \  "^  "'™  "'="  """'  vorjr 
neither  heard  the  ItoTmnor  »?■"""  ''  ■°™'"'  ■»  ''  "-X 
you-d  ''.inkthewhot„:rth;„„t';':i,:''%''-°:'«''  "'  "-^^ 

onon,h-d„„.tZT„^o:niTra::r?;!^;h'r^^^ 

Of  flesh  and  bioo,U  ."e  l;^","  177,"  "'"' '"'^ -™ -".^ 
"""USI.  I  knew  Ihem-avefe  l,yt,e    ,?  "  "'™'  """  ™™ 

»nd  piay  card,  on  the  tol  t:i"      Te  ith  "'"'  r"  ""^°' 
Ro'_  on  their  trail  at  iast."  '^^'^'''■'     '^'"' !"'»''» 

"  Why  didn't  they  take  tliem  1"  .,1,1  ir    i 
voron,  smile.    "And  ,rty  d  d" '.  j"'ff =■■"-•'•'"«  cada- 
thew  wonderful  doings  V  ''°'°  ""°"'J'  ''^'  »' 

Paul  answered  QuickTv  <fn„^ 
«te„  had  Plenty  0?  ^0"',  and  Z"'.  n  ""*""  '"^  Same- 
-  well  that  the'y  co„,rt\    d  ?    m'     p'  ^tr""""'  """"^ 
w«  huahed  „p  and  kept  from  the  pTopla  "e       ™""'  ""°"  " 

fi»r  away  from  Tipperary.  ^'"'^  ''"'^  ««e"0  ^^  tho  sacrilege  waa 

t  A  hint,  or  rather  an  idea 


254 


BESSY   COXWAY  ;     Oft, 


knew  exactly  what  it  was,  and  no  one  would  vonturo,  either, 
to  go  and  find  it  out.  If  it  hadn't  been  for  Paul  here  and  his 
comrade,  Billy  Potts,  Lord  knows  how  Ion,-?  the  villains  might 
have  been  at  it,  for  I  don't  think  thero  were  two  other  men^'in 
the  country  that  would  do  what  they  did." 

"  We  aro  to  suppose,  then,"  said  Herbert  addrcssinjr  Paul 
with  a  darkening  brow,  "that  it  was  you  and  Humpy  Biliy 
that  gave  information  to  the  poHco.  Truly  the  community  at 
large  was  much  beholden  to  yo.i!  Allow  me  to  thank  yon, 
Mr.  Paul  Brannigan  !  on  behalf  of  all  concerned.  As  for  your 
story  it  does  honor  to  your  head  if  not  to  your  heart-it  is 
really  a  wonderful  effort  of  your  imagination  !" 

The  scathing  irony,  the  inefflible  contempt  with  which  these 
words  were  uttered  would  have  annihilated  many  others,  and 
were  probably  meant  to  annihilate  Paul,  but  Paul  was  not  the 
man  to  quail  before  mortal  eye,  and  he  stood  the  fire  of  Her- 
bert's  lightning  glance  without  moving  a  muscle  and  looked 
him  in  the  face  with  a  cold  searching  eye. 

"  If  I  understand  you  right,  Mr.  Herbert,"  said  he,  "  yoa 
mean  that  I  invented  the  whole  story  1  Do  vou  or  do  vou 
not  ?"  '  ^ 

"How  could  I  accuse  you  of  such  a  thing?"  said  Herbert, 
still  in  the  same  biting  tone,  "  supported  as  you  aro,  too,  by 
the  testimony  of— what's  his  name  there  V 

"Oh!  be  easy  now,  Mr.  Herbert,"  said  Toague,  with  a  know- 
ing  wink  ;  "  that's  a  mighty  long  name  you're  puttin'  on  me." 

Herbert  muttered  something  between  his  teeth,  in  which  the 
word  "  rascal"  was  alone  distinguishable.  league  was  angry 
enough  to  say  anything,  but  Ally  made  a  sign  to  him  to  keep 
quiet,  pointing  at  the  same  time  to  Paul. 

The  hunchback  had  never  taken  his  eye  from  Herbert's 
face,  and  the  bold  brow  of  the  latter  began  to  pale  beneath 
that  stern  glance. 

"Take  him  softly  1"  whispered  Dixon,  "h©  has  you  on  the 
hip!" 


TOE    IRISH   OIRL   IK   AMERICA.  255 

"Hang  him!   he's  only  Joking,"  said  Herbert  half  aloud 

in.  hiT..d      «"?•    f '^  "'"""■'"' '"  »"'"  ''""I.  -""out  turn, 
■ng  h,   head.    Herbert  started  as  if  an  adder  had  stun-r  him 

^net,,  ana  he  trembled  m  every  limb 
"  Bessy  Conway !"  said  Paul  with  thrilling  solemnity  of  look 

>VeII!  I  have  seen  It  worse  than  that-ay!  when  vou'd  fh;„v 

^^^V.llam!      hissed    Herbert    through    his    closed    teeth. 

"  I  am  no  liar,"  said  Paul,  with  increasing  solemnity  "the 
Lord  who  will  judge  us  both,  knows  that  I  speak  fe'  truth 
vhen     tell  you  Bessy  Conway  !  and  all  you  who  hear  me'^:!!!: 

andlr  ?        ''•'^  ''^'"  ''"''^  H^^bert,  with  sudden  fury 
and  he  made  a  spnng  at  Paul  to  catch  him  by  the  neck     Tlfe 

'■'That  there  he  stands,"  went  on  Paul,  pointing  slowly  with 
Ins  finger,  "who  dealt  the  cards  en  that  awful  ni^ht  in Ih" 
nwful  place,  and  threw  his  dice  on  the  dead  men's  bones  n  7b 
consecrated  walls  of  Ardfinnan  Abbey  --  ^  ^^' 

Hur''lt;w'M''fv'  ^""^""  '^^"  1^- seat  with  a  wild 
iaugh,  I  knew, t!-I  knew  it  was  he!  I'm  blowed  if  that 
wa'ntarumidea!"  *"  "lowea  it  that 

''You'd  best  keep  a  close  mouth,  Dixon,"  said  Herbert 
with  a  threaten  nrr  rrcsture      "  T?,^o^:^  ^croen, 

beaten."  ^  ^  ""''^^  ^'"^  '^P'  to  get 

"Let  us  out,  Paul,"  said  Mrs.  Murphy,  makinrr  for  fh^ 

itnoM    f"'"'  Ally  after  her;  "let  Lout  ;:ra;d:alr 

L  s  no^^lucky  nor  safe  to  bo  where  he  is  !    Oh,  oh !  oh »  who'd" 

innk  there  was  such  wickedness  in  the  world 'l    Come  alng 

I  tell  you,  Ally,  never  lufnd  Ned."  ^' 


250 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


-pon'dedt.;'  "^  """''  "'  """''^  "■»  '-■'  ^^  -,  be,- 

So  saying,  the  two  made  their  exit   wiflinnf        r 
one  look  at  Herbert  so  great  w^  thl fr  T  ?!  "^  "'"'" 

What  11  we  do  with  her  ?"  said  Ned  to  Paul     "  n.  iv 
laws  she  frightens  me,  bo  she  does."  ^^  ^^® 

Eerbert,  confounded  and  overwh^lmi^rT  t.,  ^    , 

Bessy  stood,  w,  heart  was  melted  „„!:,",        i?         ^™ 
he  was  at  hpr  si,i«  „„,i     •  •      I  ^    '    -^^  '^^  mstant 

in  fct;,-„Tv:,t':  '"^  '"  ""■•  ^"'  '■-''■  "=  -"> 

"  Bessy !  I  know  I  am  an  outcast-I  acknowled<r«  ait        ^ 
more  than  all  they  have  told-but  will  you  Ze^t t      oT 
At  he  sound  of  his  voice,  the  blood  rushed  to  Bessvw!.- 
suffusing  chqek,  and  brow,  and  lip-her  evl  m  f '''^.;/"^^' 
den  fire,  and  she  snatched  away  The  hi'    e  L  t'hTl     th'" 
n,ot.on  d  hj,  away,  averting  her  head  at  the  samt  ^e  '     " 

but  iZlTl  '"'  f -/'"'^^^  •'  ^^^'^^  ^  ^^-^  «"-e-oh . 
but  I  m  sorry  for  you  !-but  never,  never,  never  speak  to  rne 

agam-never,  never.  ?i<^tfr/    Oh    dear  TnrHi  «i  Vn      . 

can  make  men  do!   Come  Ned-    hetJ  '*  "''  ^'"^^ 

"WnTi  T  f      •       ."..'^^^•"''"^^  done  lor  you  anyhow!" 
We  1,  I  forf.,ve  h.m,"  said  Ned,  "  if  God  forgives  him     r 
thmk  h.s  conscience  will  be  punishment  enough  L  Lim  "' 


y  be," 

:  even 
3rime. 
Bessy 
3,  her 
Paul 
It  tho 
chad, 
to  go 
miust 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IK   AMERICA. 


257 

"Now  I'm  lost  indeed  v  o„,-j  tr    ^ 

gered  a  moment  and  seein^  tlZf  ,  ''  ^^°^-  ^'^"^  I^"- 
-nt^over  a  ,  i^id  his  hand^r:.  LV  ^^  "^^^'^  °^  ^^'•-' 
^^£-He.be..3aMho,..io.t...e..,,i..,^_ 

nerb"tTellt'ui;;irsJl!^  ^^  ^^^  next!"  cried 

and  from  the  house^epeatinrrf '  '"fr"^'^  ^'•^^  ^^-  room 
^«/y  one  /"  ^'''^'°S  to  himself:  '«  0«?y  one  alive- 


'  the 

side 

lows 

and 

,  for 

i^hat 

lere 

tant 

iaid 

ind 
> 

ce, 
id- 
len 


h! 
ne 
ril 
!" 
I 


258 


BESSY    CONWAY 


OR, 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

_  We  will  now  leave  Bessy  Conway  for  awhile,  and  return  to 
the  old  homestead  she  left  behind 

"  On  that  bright  spring  morning  long  ago" 
When  she  went  to  seek  her  fortune  in  America.    Full  seven 
years  had  passed  away  since  Bessy  left  her  father's  cottage 
and  eventful  as  those  years  had  been  to  her  they  were  not  les^ 
80  to  "  the  old  folks  at  home." 

"  The  summer  sun  was  sinking 

With  a  mild  light  calm  and  mellow," 

and  ita  slanting  rays  rested  on  the  straw-thatchod  roof  of 
Denis  Conway,  but  there  was  no  beauty  in  the  picture,  for  the 
look  of  comfort  and  neatness  that  belonged  to  the  place  in 
former  days  was  gone,  and  had  left  scarce  a  trace  behind.     The 
thatch  so  trim  and  smooth  in  those  by-gone  days  was  broken 
m  niany  places,  and  covered  with  patches  of  moss,  whilst 
ch.cken-weed  and  darnel  flaunted  their  unwelcome  verdure  on 
the  gable-tofis.     The  white  walls  beneath  were  discolored  and 
stripped  here  and  there  of  the  "  pebble-dash"  that  had  cov- 
ered  them  all  so  neatly.    The  small  windows,  too,  were  disfig- 
ured with  sundry  pieces  of  board  nailed  on  as  substitutes  f«r 
broken  panes,  and  altogether  the  house  had  a  desolate,  ne- 
elected  look  in  painful  contrast  with  its  former  appearance. 
The  haggard  was  empty,  and  so  was  the  byer-the  horse  was 
gone  from  the  stable,  and  even  the  sty  had  lost  its  tonants- 
thc  overgrown  sow  was  no  longer  there  with  her  squeakin<r 


THK    IRISH    GIRL    IX    AMERICA. 


259 


the  farm-yard  was  no  longer  lieard ;  the  very  hum  of  f  I.Ii! 

Na«cy  herself  as  she  bent  over  the  not  J.^    ,  ^  ^• 

^  imnge,  and  the  low.  s„p;e::;:d^l ^  :  ir^^^":? 
irregnhir  intervals  from  a  straw  "shakn  .Inl--         ,  *^ 

;ncUe.edt,.,.3enceofon;wrt:^U^^^^ 
^as  Ellen    U,o  bright-eyed,  dark-haired  fairy    Jj^t    \ 
used   to  ring  the  loudest,  whoso  foot  spr inl  th^       ,  .      ^ 
days  not  long  gone  by      But  tl.o  7  "P';"S/''«  J'S'itest  in 


260 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


''Never  mind,  dear,  never  mind!"   still  said   Deni«  •  » -m 
or..  t..,i..  us  He  i.-He'll  change  His  hand  wth  u      Ln     e^ 
sees  fit.     Have  you  the  broth  ready  for  Ellen   Nancv7 V/^ 

Nancy.  f.eo  .,a  „„.p„.ea  :  ■■  „r  ^^  e'      ,    t  ■■"!;   '" 
Wtn !     thmk  I  ,„  i,etlor-I',„  no  worse,  a„yho,v  !■■  ' 

wici.  ;:';:?;::„ "'  "■^°''  °"'  '""■^""  -'" «« '"«■« 

■■Bid  tl.e  boys  come  back  from  CasheH"  Ellen  asked. 
■■t.,^   ,.!  T,  °-^'""=""'«'™  <"erymi„.te,",aid  »ancy 

whTe  blCdZr  '"'  " """  °'  ""• ""-  """"■'  "^  -- 

Ellen  looked  up  eagerly  in  her  sister's  face  and  „  f.i„, 
flush  sun-used   her  «sted  cheek,  it  faded  ^,  <,'„    L  aT 
came,  and  the  tears  gushed  .o  her  eyes,    -i  d^t  Jnt  U 


THE    IRISH   GIRL    IS    AMERICA. 


261 

Ilusht,  Ellon '  hiKiiifi"  o„-i  1 
so  much  !"  ■  ' '     '"'^  ^'''  ^^«"^«''.  "  'lon't  bo  talkin' 

"Make  your  mind  easy,"  whispered  Nancy  "  wnV«  .    . 
far  run  as  you  think  "     Piu^     )      ,     ^>ancy,     wo  ro  not  so 

with  a,  cheerful  an  alpect  a»   1,  ^r  ""'^  "™''  '•°™"'' 

handing  a  s„,al.  h  ;  tX  '    Vh?  trr"'  °"' °'  "'™ 
at  the  pot  on  the  Are  and    N  f  *  ""^  "'  """=''  »»» 

wretcheS  "uhstitl  X;"  .f '-Jt:"!'', '"  *'"  ""  ''" 
looked  at  each  oth,.r  ;,n  .     >         /'  '""""  »"<'  ""'her 

t^e  .unke„°:i;e:rar/„rt;:'v;r"'"' """'-'  ^' 

clear  that  each  one  avoH.^  "<"'  eyM  of  tl,e,r  sons.    It  was 
took  courage!  "'"""^  ""'•    ^'  '"^t  "«  father 

•;  Well,  boj-8 !  iid  you  get  any  work  V 

wh.etj;a,?car?  ;:;'/"*"■■  '^'^  ""  »'^-  '^ther, 

■Be  than'r„=irmrr"rf  ™  ":™s'"'°  "'^' ''  ""^■"- 

they  wouldn't  £iv,u,  an  "        ,  As  »e  were  brothers, 

wo  only  workerf;:::^'^::  - ''''  ™* """-"  -^ 

moiht  ^n;:^™''  """  '°  '-='  *»  •■i'<-  '0^  IS"-,"  =aM  the 

was  none  in  theLuThuT^  o/d^^rurdt: -ra""":'"^^^ 
that  sa,w  „s  standin'  .here  idle  gave  Tom Jv  7  '  «"'""™'" 
for  holdin-  his  h<*o  an'  w.  I  f  ,1  *     S'^-l'-^y  piece 

-gar."  He  a.led  „;'  s^fu"  fi°  t  ^  """","'  ""'  "'  "^  ""^ 
oould  not  speak  a,  otltrwor  .rw";  "'"';'''''''""  "'^ 
lighter  spi.it  though  equally  lick  »M  T  ■■;  *<™'"'kat  a 
the  sentence   "and  XT  ■"■''  "'"'-'"'o''  to  finish 

bought  hread  for  Lie  „;:"  ^ftT"  TT  "^  '"''^"  •»         ' 
^  ^'1.     »va.gn  t  that  fin©  dealin'.  mothflr  ->" 


202 


BESSY   CONWAV:     OR, 


dJ}T'^''rr''^  ^''^  ^°"'  P'^'  ^°y''"  «^'^^  tho  mother  ten- 

tbat  ha(  n  t  your  hearts  in  it  when  you  Lad  it.    Och !  och- 
but  thoy'ro  the  awful  times  these  !"  ' 

"  Well!  it's  one  comfort,"  said  the  younger  son  wit?)  a  poor 
attempt  at  gaiety.  « ifs  one  comfort  that  we're  no  wors!  fj  an 
our  ne.ghbors.  I  saw  Denny  Ryan  of  the  Hill  the  oaw  il 
ago  carrym'  home  a  stone  of  Indian  meal  on  his  back-and 

with  the  dint  of  hunger !"  "«.«"u 

"Poor  man!  God^elp  him!"  said  Denis  compassionately 
'  inm  t  at  had  full  and  plenty  of  everything  such  a  sLrttfe 
ago.    It  s  httlo  he'd  think  of  giving  more  than  that  to  a  beg! 
gar  goin'  the  road  !"  ^ 

"  An'  Jack  Ilagerty's  wife  an'  two  children  are  down  with 
the  sickness,"  said  Tommy. 

at'ln'v^  ^'^T.r  """"^  '"""  ^'•'  ''^^^''  ^°"^''^'  «"  "^e  people 
at  al]'  said  Mrs.   Conway  in  a  desponding  tone  ;  "there' 
no  hu     for  any  of  us,  I'm  afeard,  but  death  and  starva  tn 
Och    Dems  dear,  isn't  that  girl  of  ours  cruel  and  hard-hea  ted 
not  to  answer  any  of  our  letters  V 

_  "You  may  say  that,  mother!"  said  Tommy  in  a  tone  of 
ind,gna  .on;  "she  was  very  good  at  offering  us  money  when 
.ve  didn't  want  it,  but  when  the  bad  times  came  on  us  and  th 

L  til  :f '' ""'  ""  '-''''  ''''  ^^^«'-'  everything  w 
ad,  then  when  we  wrote  to  let  her  know  how  matters  stood 
she  could  j^ve  us  the  cold  shoulder  and  wouldn't  even  S 
us  a  scroll.     That's   the  way  with   the  world-when   you^  I 
down,  down  with  you !" 

The  young  man  fixed  his  eyes  moodily  off  the  dull  smould- 
enng  fire,  and  sat  silent  and  abstracted  with  his  brows  knit 
together  and  a  bitter  smile  curling  his  lip. 

"Well  now,"  said  the  ever-hoping  father,  "  I  think  you're  all 
too  hard  on  Ccssy :  there's  something  tellin'  me  that  it  isn't 
tier  fault— maybe  she  never  got  the  letters." 


WE  m-  „.  omi,  ,N-  AMKRicA.  263 

<^xcuses,  now,  Denis.    I  tdl  vm,  h       ,     "  ^  ^'«  ^''i-'f^  to  make 
"  What  are  wo  goin'  to  d"  IZT'  ""^  '''''''  ^''  '^'^'•' 

bert  altorrotliGr   nn'  ,r.     /       '      ^°" '®  ^'^''SetUn' Mrs.  Her- 
«."..■»  c:l.°'         "'"  ''"°"""»'  "'»  I'^iliTBau.  tl,o  last 

"  Know  it  ?"  said  hU  futh^,.    u  , 
'"    B,u  „„™r  mi  d  cwt:'  ""^  '""'^  "^  =»"'"  <■-=-' 

"en  if  .hat  tyrant  o  a  w  ^T^  d^?;"  '  ""'  '^  «°""'  """ 
U3  >vill,  a  shelter  I  Bo  J  yTf,  T  ""  ""'■  ""'"  I'™"''" 
This  was  evidently  meTnt  tlT     Tl       "'^  ''"^^  ''"<^"  "'f 

■nent,  and  the  rest,  eve  obT  t^rt!'".':'  P»''-"-- -o- 
atto«t,on  on  Elian  who  was  ,C„i  '""'"'■™.  """od  their 
-|to  do  so,  for  She  ZIVZ^^^^'  ""'  '=^"  "--O" 

■•"  -;  I'^t^rthr  i"r  ;:::'^  ?r™^'»  ™«"«<'.  -<> 

n  was  the  terrible  year  of  th'  p  '  ="■  ""''  ^'"""■'  »'  '■■»ta-;. 
«ue»ed,  and  the  ruin  whi  ,  td  h  '  °'  ""  ™'""-  ""'  ""^'' 
i"S  the  previous  yearJo  Lti'!:"  '"■"S'"-'-"* '■•'Pidly  dur- 
--i  the  failure  of  crop,  ,  a"  't  T"?'"'  '"'P'-''^^'"". 
farmers  of  the  country  a„dL„  ^°  "'^""'^  "'"  »'"»" 
»nd  his  family,  t„  the  n  «'  t,,^  ,•""'  '"''  "'""•'  Conway 
What  money  Denis  LThad  I     '."  '  "''  "■""  ^°="  '"-' 

w'..»t  was  r?penin '  in  his  fleidTf     >"  f  ™''  ^°"''  ^  "->™  <"• 
"ot  the  means  to  p'u  cl  a  e  s  ed  tf  ",'  "°  '"'"'=-«"'=  '«  '«" 
°->t  oating,  and  one  after   „„u''rev      f  T^  ""'  '"•"  "■•'"- 
fi'ir  and  sold.    Mm  and  tet     I''    °°'  ™'  '"'™  '"  '"» 
and  what  was  worse  than  all  £h„  1     "°''?°'  """'  "''"'  'h™. 
it  wa,  little  compared  wrth"to°TT,'I''"''  '""^  ""■""S'-t- 
time-had  most  of  it  ,o  g„  ^  a  1  °      ,  """  '''"'  "'  """«'" 
Mn,.  Herbert's  bailitTs.    SoVom  bL  I'  "'""""■""^  "^"""^  of 

till  everything  wa,  wantin"  h    ,,  "''"■'°  """«=  «-'  «■•. 

i.         wantmg  m  the  once-plontif„I  ho.,.....,.' 


264 


BESSY    CONV  AY  ;     OR, 


.   everything  except  tho  grace  of  God  and  Ills  holy  peace.    That 
was  still  (here  in  as  great  abundanro  a.s  av^r,  and  faith  ai  \ 
hope,  though  at  times,  perhaps,  dimmed  by  the  hen  vy  clouds 
of  sufTcring  and  privation,  were  never  wholly  obscured      Tho 
old  man  himself  never  allowed  distrust  or  fear  to  enter  his 
nnnd :  no  patriarch  of  old  ever  trusted  more  firmly  in  the  Lord 
Almighty,  and  tho  darker  the  clouds  that  gathered  aroun.l  J,im 
tho  mote  .steadily  he  fixed  his  eyes  on  tho  liglit  that  glimmered 
afar  in  the  firmament.    It  was  sad  to  see  the  failing  old  man 
wandering  in  the  morning  or  evening  twilight  around  his  fal- 
low fields  where  in  other  years  the  golden  grain  would,  at  that 
season,  wave  luxuriant,  ready  for  the  sickle,  and  the  ru-crod 
loaves  of  tho  potato-stalk  covering  whole  acres  with  their  dark 
green  hue  of  promise.    Now  tho  tall  rag-weed  nodded  in  the 
summer  breeze,  the  dock-weed  spread  its  broad  leaves  on  tho 
and  soil,  and  the  fiery  nettle  grew  and  flourished  where  a  weed 
dared  not  rear  its  head  before,  to  dispute  possession  with  the 
carefully-ten  i<M.  ;,rain-stalk.    As   Denis  noted  all  this,  and 
thought  hov.  ...any  other  farms  in  that  fertile  district  were  like 
unto  lug  ovuv    n>  .vould  sit  down  on  a  broken  stile,  or  ono  of 
those  huge  bouiiers-goological  puzzles-so  common  in  the 
inland  as  well  as  the  maritime  counties  of  Ireland,  and  buryincr 
lus  face  in  his  hands,  give  free  vent  to  that  natural  sorrow 
which  he  could  not  but  foci  at  sight  of  so  much  desolation 
At  home,  the  old  man  tried  to  conceal  his  feelings,  for  he  knew 
that  the  wife  of  his  youth  and  the  children  of  his  love  were 
pining  and  wasting  day  by  day  under  the  blightin<r  hand  of 
misery,  and  he  felt  it  incumbent  on  himself  to  set  tl^em  an  ov 
ample  of  fortitude  and  resignation.    One  of  the  hardest  .  f 
his  trials  was  the  apparent  neglect  of  Bessy,  for,  althou-'.  I^e 
tried  to  excuse  her  to  the  rest  of  the  family,  ho  was  far  fro,n 
being  satisfied  himself,  and  feared  either  that  something  m.i- 
have  happened  to  her,  or  that  her  heart  had  grown  haul  ai.  ' 
cold,  as  hearts  often  do  in  the  lapse  of  years,  especially  awar 
from  home  and  home-ties. 


THE    IRISH   Gjflf.    IS   AMERICA. 


265 

.".^k„  p„,at„b,a.  H„r. ,::;  t;^,":'"  "■«  -'  «^i^ .» 

l..de„u»  form  „i„ht  i,  ,,„  „;„,  J;'''  ,  '"  "»  "".t 

■iiiiger  lo  himself  was  onlv  a  .11    ,  ■'■°''  ''"'"-(lio 

wa.  to  como  of  them  all"    II„       r'^"^  c<".-lerali„„_„h„t 
anO  comr„r,,  and  loT  .1    e  ".,  tl      7  ^  '""'^"  ''"^  ^""^ 

-.H»ew.;on,H.„«thj„;rsor:;::r;:ror" 

S^o,  family  l„  n,  „„„i,      ^«  'K. 

'■i»  «7es  gazed  delighted  h^d  been  LT"'  """°'  ™  ""'=" 
I".t  he  foil  the  gentle  che  rt^tV  "  "'  """"^  "  *'"'i. 

»•;,-,  and  opening  his'  1'::  "'"  r"T  "''''"  "^"-'^ 
cl^^pedhi,  aged  hands  in  a  new  and  morer"^'^  "'"°"  ''" 
murm.red :   "  The  Lord  is  a  ri.i?  ,        ''°^"'  'P'"^-  ""^ 

fear  that  me  or  mino  will  die  o  L""  """"'""  """"'"» 
ourselves  yet  without  a  b  t  i„  °  t ''™°"'~"''  ™  "^"'■-  =»™ 
'el  my  heart  sink  so  low  ,"  '' ''°  """  '  '  ""Sralemi  to 

'»Xo":'A"„:;^:rS:ii"tr^"'r"°'''-''"^''w 

p-H.  Of  hi,  faith,  tL  rni^hrfUtr"-^ '° '»"  "■» 

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266 


BESSY    CONWAY;     OR, 


The  morning  sun  was  shining  far  up  in  heaven's  blue  vault 
and  the  world  looked  as  bright  and  joyous  aa  though  it  con- 
tained no  aching  heart  within  its  wide  circumference 

Denis  Conway  was  sitting  at  his  door  eDJoymg  the  beauty 
and  freshness  of  the  morning,  employing  himself  the  while  in 
making  a  potato-basket  of  sally-twigs,  a  bunch  of  which  lay 
heside  him  on  the  ground.    For  the  basket,  when  completed, 
he  expected  to  get  a  few  pence  in  the  village,  and  with  that 
hope  he  worked  assiduously.    All  at  once,  however,  the  basket 
fell  from  his  hand,  his  pale  cheek  grew  paler  still,  and  a  faint 
cry  escaped  him.    What  sight  was  it  that  had  so  alarmed  the 
usually  calm  old  man  1    Alas !  it  was  no  uncommon  one  then 
m  Ireland.    Two  bailiffs,  with  half  a  dozen  policemen,  were 
advancing  from  the  village,  and  Denis,  mindful  of  Mrs  Her- 
bert's threats,  was  not  slow  to  imagine  that  his  poor  dwelling 
was  about  to  be  honored  with  their  official  visit.    His  flrsl 
thought  was  one  of  thankfulness  that  "  the  boys"  were  ^one 
off  m  search  of  work,  and  thus  removed  from  the  fearful 
temptation  of  offering  resistance  to  the  iniquitous  exactions  of 
law  and  justice."    His  next  thought  was  whether  he  should 
et  his  wife  and  daughters  know  of  the  impending  danger,  but 
he  quickly  decided  not  to  do  so.     "  Maybe  it  isn't  for  us 
they  re  bound  at  all,"  said  he  to  himself,  "and  where's  the 
use  of  frightenin'  the  creatures  till  we're  sure  one  way  or  the 
other.    If  it  is  here  they're  comin'  why  sorrow's  time  enough 
when  It  comes,  so,  in  God's  name,  I'll  wait  a  little  longer 
anyhow."  *    ' 

Ofr!  the  'racking  torture  of  that  few  moments'  suspense  as 
the  old  man  sat  watching  the  approach  of  the  posse  comitaiis ! 
All  the  love  of  his  heart,  all  its  unspeakable  tenderness  for 
those  whom  God  had  confided  to  his  care,  was  converted  at 
that  moment  into  the  most  excruciating  pain.  Many  a  family 
Dems  had  seen  turned  out  on  the  wide  world,  and  he  knew 
well  what  it  was  to  be  left  without  the  covering  of  a  roof 
with  sickness  in  the  family,  too,  and  no  means  to  procure  even 


THE   IRISH   GIRL   IN   AMERICA. 


267 

a  8'ngle  meal.    What  was  to  become  of  FiT«n  ; 
were  verifled-where  were  thev ^^1   f        °  ''^^  ^''  ^«^^« 
us  all  this  day."  siehed  fh«        ?  ^^'  ^^'  ^^"^    "God  help 
the  fright  maAili  h?r  :,t  an.rf    '  ''^''"'  "^"^^^  "'«  -^^t 
««ch  more  t'Lan  in  hortow     An' 'T'l"'''  '"  ^'^  ^'^'^  >-'' 
low  enough,  too,  only  she  do'esn  t  w "h  t    •''  ''"  "°^^«^  '^ 
«he  can  keep  on  her  feeL    Oh !  Lord  v.^^  '"^  ^'  ^^^^  "' 
Bave  them  from  this  trial    iZV  '  ^  '^  ^^  P^^^''^'  *«  you 

come  yet !"  ^^^^  ^"^^'«^'  ^^^  sorest  of  all  that's 

befwCn  «:•  ^xt  hirrdiiT  ^^^^^™^  ^^^-^^  ^^^ 

inan's  heart  almost  ceLedrbJas  h     ""'""^' ^"'^  *^«  ^'^ 
in.  eye.  jo  see  which  roadVe^^M^.V"'^'^'  ""'''  ''-^- 

it's  this  way  they'. .  comin'-L, ,  r       *        '  *^'^  '^  °°*~ay  •' 

them  in  the  ho'use  w  tTn  ^ri  wail  aZr  '  "'^  ''  '""^  '«" 

On  and  on  they  came  till  tL^we^  tj^^^^S^^^^^-*'' 

from  where  he  sat.  when  they  stoppid  'hort     'f  ''  '°'^ 

eacaped  the  anxious  watcher  '  ''°*^  ^  ^''^  °^  J<>y 

lo^gtTat:  Trir  ^o:  r  r^^'"  -^  ^^  ^-  ^ 

correcting  himself  Wv^  \''''^'°'^   heart-instantly 
then,  doeln't  pov  rty'  ^r^ant  w""""'  ''''^'^"^•-  "  ^^^' 
forgive  me !  sure  I  nVdnC'ofce     ,\r  ""'  '^"^ '    «^ 
they're  goin'  to  Peter  Casey's  1^2?^  ^?  "°'  '°'^''^'  ^''^ 
than  there  is  with  us  >"  '  "^^°^«^  there,  more 

body  with  you."  '     "^^  *^°"S^t  there  was  some- 

"No,  dear,  not  one  but  mvself  i  T'm  ^  ♦  v 


268 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


"My  goodness!  father,  what'lJ  they  do  at  all,  at  all  i  an' 
the  ould  granny  at  death's  door,  and  Peter  himself  dowi:  with 
the  fever  1" 

"Listen  here,  Nancy!"  said  her  father  beckoning  her  clcso 
to  h,m  Imwatchin'  them  ever  since  they  came  in  sight- 
1  wa.s  afeard  it  was  here  they  were  comin'-husht !  don't  say 
anything !"  and  he  pointed  back  over  his  shoulder 

"  I  know,  father,  I  know !"  whispered  Nancy  p,.le  as  death, 

but  do  you  think  they'll  come  here  ?" 

"  God  knows,  dear,  God  knows  !" 

"If  they  do  it'll  kill  Ellen!" 

"  No,  it  won't  Nancy,  no  it  won't^she'll  live  as  lon-r  as  Qod 
pleases,  let  them  do  their  worst.     Run  in,  agra  !  they'll  won 
der  what's  keepin'  you.    I'll  stay  here  and  watch  i" 

"Bessy  Conway's  letters-ould  Denis  Conway's  letters'- 
no!  ho !  ho!" 

Such  were  the  words  that  reached  the  old  man's  ear  as 
Nancy  left  him,  and  turning  with  a  start  he  saw  a  big  round 
fleshy  face  on  a  level  with  his  shoulder,  and  a  pair  of  leade,! 
grey  eyes  staring  at  him  with  a  curious  look,  half  wise  half 
foolish.     It  was  Bid  McGuigan,  the  woman  with   th^-Vast 
Oram  and  the  most  head  of  any  in  Ardfinnan.    An  h         -om 
ber  birth,  the  light  of  intelligence  had  never  dawned  o.  Bid's 
mind,  and  her  life  was  a  blank,  but  not  a  dreary  one,  for  Bid 
was  blithe  as  a  lark-blithe  as  life  and  ruddy  health  could 
make  her.     She  had  flesh  and  blood  enough  in  her  stunted 
body  for  two  ordinary  women,  though  her  stature  was  that  of 
a  child.     Her  hair,  refusing  the  restraint  of  a  cap,  hung  do«-n 
in  elf-locks  on  either  side  her  face,  whilst  behind  it  was  cut 
short  by  the  pitying  care  of  some  kindly  hand.    A  stranger 
would  have  been  startled  at  the  apparition  of  such  a  ficrure'so 
suddenly  at  his  side.    It  was  too  familiar  to  bis  eyes  to  alarm 
Denis,  but  the  words  ho  heard  were  passing  strange  in  the 
mouth  of  Bid  McQuitran, 


all  ?  an' 
Vfl  with 

er  closo 
sight — 
in't  say 

i  death, 


THE  IRISH  GIRL   IS  AMERICA. 


269 

"What's  that  you're  qTvfn'  ti-j  o.i  » 
tone.  ^  '"^'" '  ^'^  ^"  he  asked  in  a  soothing 

"I  don't  knovv!_liot  hn  i    t? 
was  up  at  GoorgyBrovn's'-'"^   T      ""'^'^  letters '-Bid 
was  Oeorgy  Brown  Z  t'     ,  ^""^^^'^  ^"'•pn'^e  ^or  Deni.s.     It 

Befo^e  the"  old  In  co^ld  J V      ""'""^^^  "'  *^«  -"«»-• 
l^and.  and  shouted  ,  ^        ^''  '^""'^'^"^'  ^^^  ^'^PP^^  W 

"  Ho !  ho !  hero's  the  bailiffs  comin'  "    ^n  f  t, 
very  door.  ^'°  *      ^^  'hey  woro  at  tho 


as  God 
11  won- 

ters ! — 


ear  as 
round, 
leaden 
J,  half 

bast 
rom 

Bid's 
»r  Bid 
could 
uiited 
at  of 
down 
is  cut 
anger 
re  so 
ilarra 
R  the 


870 


BESSY   CONWAY 


OR, 


CHAPTER  XX. 

"  Weli,  !  have  ytoti  the  rent  for  U3,  Conway  ?"  said  the  inso- 
lent  bailiff  who  was  Mrs.  Herbert's  fa,:  toium-tlie  other  was 
merely  an  assistant. 

"  'Deed  I  haven't,  Alick!"  said  poor  Denis  Conway  trem- 
bling all  over ;  "  I  told  the  mistress  I  couldn't  raise  a  penny 
till  I'd  get  it  from  America-I'm  expectin'  a  letter  every  day 
from  my  daughtar  Bessy  that's  in  New  York  beyant." 

"Fudge!"  was  Alick  Bowman's  emphatic  reply  "You 
might  as  well  give  us  a  draf^,  on  the  man  in  the  moon.  As 
you  haven't  the  money,  Conway !  we  have  a  duty  to  perform— 
you  must  march !" 

"  Why,  sure,  Mister  Bowman  !  it  isn't  turn  us  out  you'd  bo 
do.n-  ?-sure  Mrs.  Herbert  wouldn't  do  that  on  an  old  tenant 
like  me  that's  on  the  estate  since-since  the  old  master's  time— 
that's  Mr.  Mullady,  the  heavens  be  his  bead,  this  day !" 

"  Can't  help  it,"  was  the  man  of  law's  curt  reply.  "  Come 
Charlie !"  to  his  companion,  "  lend  a  hand,  will  you  ?  we've 
got  plenty  of  work  to  do  before  night  !-it's  like  there's  not 
much  hero  to  detain  us." 

In  the  bailiffs  went,  but  Denis  was  hi  before  them,  trying 
to  soothe  as  well  as  he  could  his  wife  and  their  daughter  Nancy 
who  were  sobbing  and  crying  and  wringing  their  hands  in  a 
paroxysm  of  grief.  Ellen  was  just  sitting  up  for  the  first  time 
propped  up  in  her  mother's  old  arm-chair,  and  on  hearima  the 
direful  ne>vs  she  fell  back  fainting,  though  not  insenTible. 


THE    IRISH   GIRL-  IN    AMERICA. 


2n 


She  had  not  strength  enough  to  make  any  demonstratior    f 
ner  foenngs. 

The  poor  father  had  only  time  to  say.  "  don't  despair,  for 
your  hves  don't!  the  darkest  hour,  you  know,  is  the  iour 
llZ\:jvr'   ''''  ^-  ««^  -"'^  '^-rt  us  though  th. 

The  words  were  still  on  his  lips  when  the  two  ofncials  were 
Mard  at  work  turning  the  poor  menage  inside  out.  The  beds 
-such  as  the  hard  times  had  left-chairs,  tables,  pots,  pans 
and  so  forth,  were  flying  through  t^e  door-way  with  little  re.' 
gard  to  loss  or  damage'  on  the  part  of  those  who  trundled 
^ena  cut     The  family  within  sat  looking  on  in  hopeless  an 

sent  after  their  goods  and  chattels. 

W-7'"\^'^  T'*"  this,"  said  the  afflicted  father  of  the 
family  as  he  saw  his  wife  wrapping  a  thin  shawl  round  Ellen- 
the  Janketa  were  gone  with  the  rest.    "  God  sees  all  this  -" 

What  are  you  about,  young  woman  1"  cried  Alick  and 
denly     A  little  hand  had  been  laid  on  his  arm.  and  a  soft 
feminine  voice  bade  him  stop.    "  Who  the  d_l  're  you  V' 

The  Conways  answered  the  question.    Father,  mother,  sis- 

ter^-even   Ellen-rushed  forward  with  hands   outstretdi  d 

and  the  one  word  "  i?cs5v '"  esranp,?  ih^  v       ^       "ei^cnea 

thrilling  cry  of  joy.  ^ '  ^      '^"  ^'^^  °^  '^'^  ""''^  ^ 

Bessy  put  them  all  gently  aside  with  her  hand.    "Lotus 

get  the  bailiff  out  first,.^  said  she;   "oh!  father,  fl  her  flow 

did  t  ever  come  to  this  with  you  1-EIlen.  darling,  sit  down-! 

you're  not  able  to  stand-oh !  you  haven'  a  seat,"     ee-Lnl 

m  a  chair  I"  said  she  to  the  r^tonished  bailiff. 

an  under   seizure,  and  they're  a-going  to  be  sold  by  and 

"They're  not  going  to  be  sold,"  said  Besay  with  quite  an 


272 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;    OR, 


;^' Now  all  tho  other  things-put  them  in,  I  tell  you?" 

old    n  n  •''°'''/?"Y'''''  '^'^""^^'^  doggedly,  "unless  the 
^M  inan  ,3  ready  to  hand  out  the  cash."    Th«  by  way  of  a 

^"  How  much  is  it,  father  7"  demanded  Bessy 
"  Oh  I  indeed,  it's  little  use  to  tell  you,  ashore  •" 
"  Well !  well !  let  us  hear  it,  anyhow." 

.r^7n^''  ^"  '"""  *'"  ^^"'  '^  ^°"  ^"^"^  '^  ^^^  to  hear  it  " 
hnin!'"""?  ^'"P"^^""^'  "'^''^  twenty-three  pounds,  t  a 
Wlings,  and  seven  pence  halfpenny."    He  and  his  colleague 

rnfol';     7''  ""'  "'^^^^"^  ^^^  y°""»  -«--  to  be  qui 
confounded  by  so  startling  an  announcement.     She  was  not 

larraml-n:''  '''"''  '^  '''''  ''  ^  ''"^'''^^^  ^-«- 

"and'tZ"", ''  Mrs.  Herbert,"  said  she  with  a  quiet  ^ile, 
and  tell  her  she  w.ll  oblige  us  by  sending  a  receipt  in  full-: 

LTr  17 -~'''  ""''°'  "°^  ^"«^^«  0^  r«nt  duo  on 

Denis  Conway's  farm." 

„,"!'!,'!!"!'"  '  '"''"'  *'"  ■'"  "S"«  of  ao  -"oneyr'  de- 
manded Al.ck.  '.  Of  course,  she',  not  such  a  fool  as  to  «re  1 
receipt  without  knowin'  for  what  1"  ^ 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  you'll  do,  father,"  said  Bessy  after  a 

receM."  '  """  °"*  ""^  ""'  «»'""'  ""^  8<"  ^oar 

wi;hre::7„\ro:r-rs\o-r""''^'"  -'^  «"'■'"'" 

ga;!::™:^  "  '""^  """™  "•  ""-  ^^-^  »'  "■■•  said  Bes,y  in  her 
Hearing  this  the  two  bailiffs  took  off  their  hats,  and  simnl- 
Uneously  declared  that  they  didn't  wish  to  put  Mr  ConT.y 
or  h,s  family  to  any  inconvenience.  They  weren't  to  Z 
burned,  they  were  only  poor  n,e„  earning  an  Ze  t  p^nny 
and  >»  forth  In  proof  of  their  good  dispositions,  Alick 
ordered  h,s  a,.le.dc-ca,nj,  to  take  in  the  things  as  the  declnt 


mil  misii  oim,  ly  Aucnic*. 


213 


Si.-.  »aW,  and  "  be  auro  ,„u  p„t  t„e.n  in  their  p,ac,,  ,gai„, 

aoor,  only  kept  from  rasbing  i„  by  tho  i!,!',   '  '  °'  ""^ 

.he  pobcemon.     Deni,  ™  b°.ie,i  rbutr    I  b"*::,' 

Be.sy  „a,  payi„v:,s  b:';;;:rt:c  tiittta"^^ 

place  was  still  to  bo  theirs     "  Hern',  th.  "^"'^[^'  ''^"'l  the  old 

«on  „,hi.  deiighted  friend,  a'd  IthC       '""  "''"■"- 
"  ^^".i"'  Ood  be  praised,  Denis  i"  cried  on«  "  i,. 

wa3n'toutofthe„eedofth;trelief,a„7ho:7'     '  ^ '"  ^'^' 

Thanks  be  to  God.  Denis  !"  said  another,  "you  can  honl^ 

up  your  head  now  like  a  man  I"  ^  °"^*^ 

♦v"^^T.  ^"'^  '*"  ^°"'  ^^"'«'  ^»'  GK^d  speed  you  -"  Bhout«H  . 

»Ytiilst  Denis  was  gone  it  affordi.fl  m-^K 

"  HeLt^h     ,    /  r        ^'""'' '''""'  ■'  beaulifully," 
A^.^IZ'  ""  "'="''■  ^"^l'  »™''  you  make  then,  un.  .,™, 


2t4 


BESSY  CONWAY;    OR, 


"  Well  now,  who'd  thiuk  ho  was  so  bandy  1" 

Toal  Joukod  savage,  and  shook  his  flat  at  the  rustic  wa-s 
but  they  only  laughed,  and  went  on  just  the  same.  T^e 
policemen  strove  to  silence  them,  but  it  was  no  use.     There 

they  talLod  and  laughed  incessantly,  the  crowd  increasing 
every  moment,  till  Denis  came  back  with  his  receipt  in  hi^ 
hand,  and  then  they  all  pressed  up  to  the  door  after  him  to 
get  a  Sight  of  Bessy.  The  policemen  no  longer  opposed  any 
resistance,  their  duty  being  at  an  end 

scrM^'^i^  tl|at  followed  may  be  better  Imagined  than  de- 
scribed.    Whilst  Bessy  and  her  parents  and  sisters  were  ex. 
changing  their  fond  and  joyous  greeting,  their  friends  outside 
were  dismissing  the  bailifls  and  policemen  with  derisive  cheers 
and  sundry  expressions  of  mock  condolence  for  their  disap- 
pointment.    This  was  as  much,  perhaps,  with  a  view  to  leave 
those  within  time  to  give  expression  to  their  feelings  as  any- 
thing  else.     That  delicacy  of  feehng  intuitive  in  the  Irish 
heart  ,n  its  natural  state  kept  the  people  from  flocking  in  till 
the  re-united  family  had  enjoyed  the  bliss  of  their  meetln-  for 
a  fe^y  moments  without  witnesses,  no  matter  how  friendly 
f  ur  hermore,  there  was  that  love  of  fun,  also  inherent  in  the' 
Ins h  nature    and  which  no  circumstances  can  ever  wholly 

tZ7:^T  ''"  '"''  '  '''''''''  «PP-t-ity  of  having  I 
laugh  at  the  expense  of  their  official  tyrants  could  not  pos- 
.ibly  be  let  slip.    The  others  bore  the  ironical  merriment  of 

ltr7!rlr''^°°'^°"'"'"'*^^"  ^^^Sht  have  been  ex- 
pected.  Ahck  Bowman  was  particularly  free  and  easy  and 
'humored  the  joke"  in  a  way  that  was  quite  refreshing'^  s  e 
n  a  man  of  such  high  official  authority.  He  even  conde- 
scended to  throw  out  divers  "quirks  and  quibbles"  for  the 
amusement  of  the  crowd  as  he  marched  away,  pretty  much  in 
the  same  way  as  a  bear  showing  off  his  steps  to  a  gaping 
crowd  at  a  country  fair.  ^  ^  ^ 


THE    IRIrfH    Mil,,    ij,    AMERICA.  275 

loarful,   wiU,   .1,0  hai„l   „r   1  ^      ^    "^  ^"^ "'""'  """1 

clasped  i„  her,     P  ^1  m    "°"'''  """"""^   ''""S'"''- 

needed  lU-didn-t  I  tol,  y„„  Ood  wouH  „eve   d.  en  Ilr  "' 
_^B„d,et  „„„.odded  „.e„t-.ho  .a,  .„„  ..a^r^Leh 

"But,  father  dear!"  said  Bessv  "wW  ^-i  .. 

;;  Then  you  diU  write  7"  said  Bossy  in  groat  surprise 
Wiite!  wliy  to  be  euro  we  did '?-didn'f  xv„  V 
enough  that  you'd  ask  no  better  use  ff  "^  '"'" 

helpin'  us  in  our  sore  need    oh        v"^         ^''"'  '''""'^  ^^'"^ 
to  you  .ince  the  hard  tiLel'canv   .n  ^  ^^  ^""'^  ^'^^^^  ^^^^™ 
;;  And  you  got  ne'er  a  letter  from  me  all  that  time  7" 

Not  as  much  as  one  scroll  " 
"  Well !  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is  father  "  sai^  n 
'''t^!'T\''^y^-^'^^^^^i^     «-y  wuh  a 

Thatsjustwhatlthinkmyself,  Bessy  !•. 
Nanfy  '"suTe  'l':,"^*'  "^^^  -"'^  --e  of  them  7"  cried 
tbeyb;tothemr  ^^'  ""  ''''''  '''''-'  ^^^^  "-  would 
Bessy  looked  at  her  father  and  her  father  looked  at  ber. 


W 


276 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OB, 


'•  That's  what  wo  can't  foil,"  «aid  Denis,  "  but  I  heard  a  riddle 
the  day  that'll  maybe  throNv  some  light  on  it,  when  I  yet  it 
read." 

The  curiosity  excited  by  these  words  was  suspended  for  the 
tune  by  the  influx  of  friends  and  neighbors,  anxious  to  ofler 
their  fehctations  to  the  family,  and  still  more  so  to  see  the 
live  hon  all  the  way  from  America.    The  house  was  hardly 
empty  that  whole  day,  one  sot  of  visitors  makinj?  their  appear- 
ance,  porhap.s,  before    the  others   had   made  their  exit      If 
Bessy  had  been  the  owner  of  half  a  dozen  toi,:;uos  she  could 
Jiardly  havo  answered  all  the  questions  put  to  her,  not  only 
about  her  own  affairs  but  those  of  every  person  that  had  left 
that  part  of  the  country  for  more  years  than  Bessy  had  been 
m  America. 

"  Nancy  dear!"  said  Bessy  taking  her  sister  aside,  "  I  want 
to  speak  to  you  a  moment."  What  passed  between  them  was 
a  secret,  thourrf,  many  ears  were  open  to  hear,  but  whatever 
it  was  Nancy  threw  a  shawl  around  her  attenuated  form  and 
vanished,  after  in  turn  whispering  her  mother.  Up  rose  Brid- 
get with  alacrity,  and  made  the  best  fire  she  could  and  over  U 
hung  a  large  pot  of  water,  bustling  her  way  throu-h  the  sit- 
ters with  an  air  half  consequential,  half  good-natured 

Denis  watched  his  wife's  movements  with  a  curious  eye 
and  so  did  Ellon,  too,  but  neither  asked  any  questions.    After 
a  little  Nancy  returned  with  a  largo  basket  of  baker's  bread 
whilst  a  bey  from  the  village  carried  another  containing  tea' 
sugar,  butter  and  meat.    By  that  time  the  water  was  boiliucr' 
and  Bessy  said  to  her  mother :  "' 

"  Now  you  sit  down,  and  Nancy  and  I  will  do  the  rest'" 
^^  " 'Deed  an'  I'll  not  sit  down,  then,"  said  Bridget  jocosely 

It  8  long  since  I  had  any  cookery  to  do,  an'  do  you  think  I'll 
et  you  an'  Nancy  have  it  all  to  yourselves,  now  when  it  is  to 
be  done  V 

Bessy  laughed  and  said,  "  Have  your  own  way,  then '"  and 
tucking  up  the  sleeves,  and  skirt  of  her  brown  merino  dress, 


THK  inrsir  girl  is  AiiEnicA. 


277 

""  '"Wo  for  ,„„„„.     .7  '„.,'" ."'"  ""'■'  «"''.  <""'  «»t 
"•■"I  iHiv-  .o,„o  l„„ff  „io„  r  "dv/"?;™"  "'°  '"''"•"  «"'!  ■-'«■. 

P'o„„rti„„ai„  ,,„ar  lity  n  J'  ^„  """"'"»  '"""""S  1'"""  in 
•«n  .„ol,  ,,repa,ali„,.  for  a"  „  „f  r';'"  ""''  °"''  "'"•''  ''"d 
e^'edy  oyos  »UI,  whic,     ifol™  "°"  '""''"'  '"  "'»  "■» 

Strict  propriety  wo„l      a    'Tr':,U    ""  "7  "'""""""■'  '■'•™' 
'■ow  .1,0  fartl,or  tl,„  p.epa  °  "1",    ,    "™7'  ""'"'■  >""  »»""'- 

«"«r  <me,.i„„  to  pat  ,„  Bo  sy     LI    ^  "'™'"'-^ '^  »"=■' 
yol  to  1.0  elicited.  ^'      "•  ""°P  ■"  information 

"»oe„,ed,eryL„K„  t„rilTr' ,?"""-"  ^'»  «'»""• 

«  a  time  when  the  ivhole "oun,  "  ^r"''"  °'  "'"'••  '■'""'"e, 
"«■>  -aitej ,..  »aid  he  to  1^:7  "  mu,  '"'^  "  '  "*"  ""> 
K^o.  Thaf,  ahvay,  «„„*,(,"''''  P""  "'«'"res  were 
make  a  show."  ^  "'"'  "'"<>  »»in™,  wanting  to 

thJh;::^:;;i:°:<"2';'-  thewo.d  we„t  .„„„a  .Lt 

;""»'■■  «-d  <-r  rathe;!'.  wnTal";    ''"'"'  '""■'^•'  ™°  """ 
haven't  heard  of  your  eomil"  "  °"'  °'  "'"'■  "  "">J' 

-a^':  ™?rz:e";:rrr  """i"'^^"'  -^ »--. 

■■"us,  to  see  that  all  was  i„  7,  a  '  °°''  '"»  '■•°*'"»  "PPa- 
"ilhin  the  door  of  the  roomH  hH"'  '"'T'  ''"»»"  J"" 
opposite  the  fireplace   wiL   I,    t  '"''  "'  "'"  "'"'•''■en, 

"ttle  open,  she  had  a  view  „    'l.  fn  ,'"''""°"  '""  "'""  «'-  »» 
WhoT,  41,  ^^  *'*  t^iat  passed 

When  the  young  „en  ca„,„  i„  .„,,  J„„,;l_  ,_„  _  ..   . 


278 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


eyes,  and  they  stood  looking  round  them  liko  persons  recov- 
ering from  some  strange  dream.    Where  they  expected  to  see 
only  penury,  and  want,  and  woe,  there  was  comfort  and  plenty 
and  smiling  faces.    A  bright  Are  burned  on  the  hearth,  the 
table  was  spread  for  a  feast,  and  the  place  was  redolent  with 
the  grateful  smell  of  frying  beef.  The  kitchen  was  full  of  friends 
and  neighbors,  all  looking  as  gay  as  could  be  in  anticipation 
of  the  good  cheer,  which  they  began  to  suspect  was  rot  all 
for  family  consumption.     The  young  men  looked  at  their 
father,  then  at  their  mother.    More  wonders :  the  wo-begone 
look  of  the  morning  had  vanished,  and  hope  and  joy  were 
beaming  in  the  eyes  but  late  so  dull  and  heavy.    There  was  a 
twinkle  of  sly  humor,  too,  that  brought  old  time?  vividly  back, 
and  made  the  brothers  smile  they  knew  not  why.    Even  Ellen 
was  no  longer  the  same— the  pinched,  parched  look  was  gone, 
and  the  ghastly  paleness  of  the  sweet  features  was  tinted  with 
a  more  life-like  hue.     Ellen  was  smiling,  too,  and  smiling 
cheerfully  and  hopefully  as  she  used  to  do  in  the  days  when 
peace  and   plenty  were  their  lot.    It  was  strange,  passing 
btrange.    Every  object  wps  so  changed  that  it  seemed  as  if  a 
magician's  wand  had  waved  over  all. 

A  chorus  of  glad  welcome  greeted  the  bewildered  brothers, 
but  they  heeded  it  not.  Their  attention  was  riveted  on  their 
parents. 

"  Father !  mother !  what's  the  meaning  of  this  V  cried  one. 

"  We  heard  as  we  came  along,"  said  the  other,  "  that  some- 
thing had  happened  at  home,  but  nobody  would  tell  us  what 
it  was!" 

"  Can't  you  guess  1"  said  their  father  pleasantly. 
"Well!  either  Bessy's  come  home,  or  the  fairies  have  been 
at  work  here  since  wo  left." 

A  shout  of  laughter  followed  and  a  general  clapping  of 
hands. 

"You  may  as  well  come  out,  Boasy!"  cried  her  mother, 
"  those  lads  are  too  good  at  gueesin*  to  be  kept  in  the  dark." 


THE   IP.I3H  GIRL   IN    AMERICA. 


219 


1-arts,  now  ^ushe^d  from  ^  2  T  "°'  '^"''^"  '^^"^  "^'^ 
do^^•n  their  LoC  X.V  ?^  ^'  "^'^  '"^  '""^^  ""^^^^I-'i 
If  t.vp,.  M  '  *'"''°^'°"  ^^«  ^^^ared  by  all  present 

1 0  rrj;:,: -7  V'  r  ^"'^^  ^^^^^^-^  ^'^^  - 

brother.    Tinuln  WtT  "^^^ -'•^- 'he  sister  and  the 
tender.  ^""'^  ^""^^^  ^°  ^«°J'"g  ^oHer  or  more 

"  So  you  came  back  to  us  Besw  r"  co;^  v        , ,     , 
looking  at  her  aa  though  helere  b,  h„^     ""^  !""  """""'■ 
••  Well!  wo  had  most  given  you  „  ""  »' "-Mentit,. 

"  How  is  that,  Tommy  i" 

worirCo/s'r:.'"^''-  s°'  •?= ■""  «■»  -' »'  '-o 

'  ty   siff/it,  out  of  mind'  and tr,A     l^.,*. 

now  what  we  thought,"  ho\dded  cheerf   l'~a' el  T"  " 
the  same  Bessy  still  i"  ^«"uijy,      1  see  you're 

little  girl  V  '  difference  do  yoa  find  in  the 

alive!  how  could  Bessy  or  anvoi    ^     v      '«  "^^  !~^vhy  man 
beyant  and  come  back  th -  ^^         ''  ^°"^  '"  ^'"^"^^ 

if  3he  did,  itT:u':?,  saVrr  t  ;rii~'^^"  -^^  ^^^^^^' 

bail,  that  verv  girl  »  and  L^T/7  ^barpness.    I']]  go 

now  than  any'  one  i'n  th:;aXb  :  in^  ufe"^^'  l'  "'^T  "^^- 
Leary_coraenow,Besw.  what  ^  ^hepnests,  and  Master 

you  learn  more  s  nee  you  went  to  a"  "' "'r^^' •-•^'^"'^ 
your  whole  life  before  r  "'*  '^"'^  ^^^  ^'^  •» 

"WeUl  I  declare  I  dnn'f  v«^„.  t,-,  ...      .,  _ 

.,non,  ^ack  r-  said  Bessy  with  a 


280 


BESSY   CONWAY;    OR, 


eniile.  "  I  suppose  I  learned  something,  anyhow ;  experience 
is  the  best  teacher,  they  say,  and  I've  had  a  good  deal  of  it 
since  I  saw  you  all  before.  But  that's  not  the  quesUon  now ! 
sit  over  to  the  table  all  of  you  and  have  some  supper— just  a 
snack,  you  know !" 

"  To  be  sure,  to  be  sure !"  said  her  father ;  "sit  over  every 
one  of  you!" 

And  Denis  rubbed  his  hands  in  a  little  ecstacy  of  hos- 
pitality; then  taking  his  place  at  the  table,  renewed  the 
invitation  by  an  imperative  gesture,  which,  of  course,  had 
the  desired  effect,  every  one  protesting,  however,  that  "  they 
hadn't  the  least  occasion;"  most  of  them  were  "just  after 
eatin'  when  they  ;eft  the  house,"  and  indeed,  to  hear  Beshy 
Ccn.vay's  guests  on  that  evening  as  they  drew  their  seats  to 
the  table,  you  would  think  it  was  all  a  mistake  about  the 
famine,  and  that  times  were  particularly  good  just  thou  and 
provisions  in   the  greatest  abundance  in  that  part  of  the 
country.     Before   the    meal    was    over,  the    company  was 
increased  by  the  arrival  of  other  friends,  and,  of  course,  room 
was  made  for  them,  too ;  the  greater  the  crush,  the  more  fun 
there  was,  for,  as  Denis  jocosely  observed,   "the  more  the 
merrier."    So  a  cordial  welcome  awaited  all  comera. 

Of  course,  Bessy  was  the  great  centre  of  attraction,  and 
every  one  was  more  than  anxious  to  hear  her  adventures  in 
America. 

"  I  had  no  adventures,"  said  Bessy  so  shortly  that  it  took 
them  all  aback. 

"  Well !  well !  anything  you  seen  that  was  new  and  strange." 

"  I  hadn't  much  time  to  see  sights,"  said  Bessy  again  "  I 
was  busy  mough  most  of  my  time." 

"Lord  bless  us,  isn't  she  mighty  short!"  said  a  big  woman 
to  Jack ;  "  wouldn't  you  think  she'd  be  glad  herself  to  tell 
whnt  she  had  seen." 

"  It's  plain  she  doesn't  want  to  be  questioned,"  returned 
Jack  in  a  whisper,  "  espaycially  about  her  own  affairs.    It'g 


THE    IRISH  GIRL   IN  AMERICA. 


281 


He  winked  at  the  big 


my  opinion  there's  some  secret  in  it  " 
woman  and  she  winked  at  him 

sudd!:,'/''ItW   f  ?/'°''-"'  ^'-yr-  said  her  fa.„„ 
"And  is  that  all  j-ou  know  about  itl"  eiclaim.^  n 

I'm  loth  to  tell  it  "  niid  Raoo^  •       i.    , 
Ned  !"_her  voice  sank  tn        ^^  '"  *  ^'^'^^  ^"^'•^^-    "  ^'^' 

with  etu;^'"^^:!':^''' """  '°"™^ » =■  ™--  ^""'^-s 

What  did  h^ie  oTbXP""  ''°°'  °"'  ^'™^'    ^•''  *™" 

-p  c  ^pX^diraiireith-'^i^i^  - 

right  she  had.  for  nn  -.«  :!.  p  l'",''..^"  *^  ^"°-    And  good 
,..,  ,„^i«  yy  jjgjj^j.  j^  ^  moti^er  than  he 


282 


BESSY   CONWAY;    OR, 


was  to  her.  He's  as  comfortable  now  as  he  could  ^sh  him- 
self,  and  has  a  nice  little  shoe-store  of  his  own,  and  I  tell  you 
he  8  making  money  fast.  God  increase  his  store,  for  it's  him 
that  doesn't  hide  his  face  from  the  poor,  anyhow !    He  boards 

with  the  Murphys " 

"  Oh !  that's  true,  and  how  are  they  doin'  1" 
"Well!  pretty  fair.  Peery  and  the  boys  are  very  steady 
and  they  re  most  of  the  time  in  good  work.  They  have  some 
money  saved,  and  live  very  nice  and  comfortable.  I  believe 
Ally  ,s  going  to  give  up  the  business,  and  it's  it  was  the  un- 
lucky business  to  her  !~^u6.  go  and  live  with  the  father  and 
mother.  Don't  you  mind  what  I  wrote  to  you,  father,  about 
Mary  marrying  Luky  Mulligan  1" 

"To  be  sure  I  mind  it  well,  Bessy!  but  I  was  forgettin'  to 
ask  you  how  it  turned  outi" 

•All  eyes  and  ears  were  open  to  know  what  came  of  such  a 
match.    Nothing  good  could  come  of  it,  every  one  said. 

Wei  !  you're  hot  far  wrong  there,-  said  Bessv,   "they 

^Zla      V  ^^"^  '"°"*'''  ""^'"'^  ^^«"  ^"ky  ^^"t  off  and 
1  sted  and  was  sent  away  out  to  Mexico,  I  believe  it  was,  and 

Mary  had  no  other  shift  but  going  out  for  a  day's  work  oa 

account  of  a  poor  cripple  of  a  little  girl  she  had  that  was  born 

after  the  father  went  away.    Sometimes  she  used  to  get  leave 

to  take  the  poor  child  with  her  to  vork,  and  there  she'd  be 

all  cay  trjing  to  mind  it  and  mind  her  work;  if  she  left  it  in 

the  tenement  house  where  she  had  part  of  a  room  it  was  worse 

st.ll,   or  she'd  be  fretting  about  it  all  the  time.    So  that's  the 

way  It  went'on  until  she  was  fairly  heart-broken,  with  poverty 

and  want,  and  the  height  of  wretchedness,  for  the  pride  that 

was  m  her  wouldn't  let  her  go  to  her  own  to  look  for  help     At 

ast,  she  took  to  drink,  and  her  unfortunate  child  was  burned 

to  death  one  day  when  she  was  out  for  something  at  the  gro- 

eery,  and  she  didn't  live  long  herself  after  it:  I  believe  she 

died  over  on  Blackwell's  Island,  where  prisoners  are  sent  for 


THE   IRISH   Gim,    IV    AMERICA. 


283 


^t;;^;„Lr'''"^^^^^'^*^'•"^^''-^-"'t -title  the.  to 

ber  Mary  Murphy,  the  prettiest  girl  about  Ardfinnan.  ay!  and 
themernefit,too!    Soon  after  the  neighbors  be^an  to  dron 

When  ttrf  ^''^''*^°'^^'  "•■"'^-  -^  MaVMLp;;' 
When  the  last  was  gone,  Bessy  told  her  father  what  she  did 
not  choose  to  tell  before  so  many,  that  Ned  had  died  a 

h:id  hi™       ?^'^'f  *''"  '^'^'"^  ■•  *^^^  '^  ^-^  f-  -  n  t 
horrible  shapes,  and  fairly  out  of  his  senses,     • 

'^  And  that's  the  way  he  died,  Bessy  V 

"  That's  the  way  he  died  '" 

grwl!"^"  "^  ""■"'*"^  "'  '«'"""'■  "">"""«  »"■'  "Shs  and 


284 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;    OR^ 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Before  "  the  Lammas  floods"  rolled  that  year  oyer  tho 
sun-parched  holms  of  Tipperary  Denis  Conway's  house  had 
assumed  more  than  its  former  appearance  of  comfort  and 
neatness,  and  when  the  family  sat  down  to  their  Ilallow-Evo 
supper  on  the  last  night  of  October  the  ban,  had  grain  and 
the  byer  had  cows,  and  a  fine  young  colt  wa^  munchin^  his 
hay  through  the  rack  of  the  well-covered  stable.  perhap"s  en- 
joying the  sense  of  comfort  as  well  as  his  owners     The  bier 
ark  was  packed  full  of  new  meal,  and  the  flitches  of  bacon 
were  again  pendant  from  the  snow-white  rafters     There  was 
a  fire  blazing  on  the  well-swept  hearth  that  suggested  the 
Idea  of  a  grond  pyramidal  turf-stack  somewhere  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity. 

There  was  no  other  light  in  the  kitchen  but  what  the  fire 
gave,  tut  that  was  .0  I -ight  that  every  object  was  plainly 
discernible,  and  it  needed  only  a  glance  to  establish  the  fact 
that  everything  there  was  "like  a  new  pin."  The  antique 
pewter  on  the  dresser,  and  the  tins  on  the  wall  hard  by  were 
reflecting  the  warm  fire-beam  like  so  many  mirrors,  and  the 
wooden  ware  beneath  was  as  white  as  any  one  had  ever  seen 
it  in  thj  best  days  of  the  Conways. 

The  supper  was  ready,  and  every  one  seemed  as  ready  for 
It.  Ellen,  now  qnite  recovered,  was  bustling  around  givin- 
the  last  touch  to  the  preparations,  whilst  Nancy  and  Bessy 
were  hurrying  to  put  the  last  stitch  in  a  new  stuff  dress  for 
their  mother.    One  brother  was  reading  aloud  a  passage  in 


THE    IRISH    Gllir,    IV    ASIKRICA. 


285 


Columbkille's  Prophecies  for  the  special  entertainment  of  his 
father  who  was  listening  with  great  attention;  the  other  was 
teasing  the  girls  "  on  the  sly"  about  their  skill  in  dress- 
making  which  Owen  affected  to  rate  very  low.    The  mother 
«at  looking  at  them  all  with  her  calm,  sober  smile  of  happi- 
ness, pondering  in  her  mind  how  God  had  brought  them  out 
from  such  a  sea  of  misery.    "  Well !  I  think  it's  all  along  of 
the  faith  that  Denis  had,"  she  said  within  herself,  "  like  Job 
that  the  priest  tells  us  about  so  often,  that  got  to  be  better  off 
after  ail  his  troubles  than  he  ever  was  before,  and  all  on  ac 
count  of  his  patience.    That's  just  the  way  with  Denis-he 
bore  everything  that  came-ay!  things  that  fretted  the  life 
and  soul  in  me,  and  now  see  how  the  Lord  sent  Bessy  home  to 
^s  with  plenty  of  money  just  when  we  were  at  the  lowest- 
It  8  a  wonderful  thing  to  think  of,  anyhow !" 

Drop,  drop  came  down  the  rain  on  the  rough  stones  outside 
liiQ  door. 

"Well?  sure  enoagh,"  said  Owen  with  a  gay  laugh.  "  it's  a 
hard  night  for  the  fairies !" 

"Husht!  Owen,  husht!"  whispered  his  mother  all  in  a 
tremor;  "let  <fem  alone,  and  they'll  let  you  alone  (-they're 
the  best  of  neighbort,  but  it  isn't  safe  to  be  namiu'  them  at 

•til* 

"  Lord  save  ue,  what's  thati"  cried  Ellen,  stopping  short  in 
her  work,  and  standing  pale  »b  death  in  a  listening  attitude  • 
"  what's  that,  at  all  1"  ' 

"  Maybe  it'«  the  fairies,'»  put  in  the  incorrigible  Owen  He 
was  silenced  by  a  warning  gesture  from  his  father,  and  they 
all  held  m  their  breath  to  listen. 

Drop,  diop  on  the  stones  still  went  the  rain,  splash,  splash 
in  the  puddles,  but  another  sound  was  plainly  heard,  a  small 
voice  muttering  words,  the  tenor  of  which  was  lost  to  the  ear 

''  I  think  Owen  is  about  right,"  whispered  Nancy. 

"  It's  aome  creature— some  child,  maybe,  that's  out  in  the 
rain,"  said  Bessy  in  the  flame  low  whisper. 


2S6 


BESSY   CONWAY,    OR, 


"Vm2T,Z'l"  "■".>''"''=«"ig''","  cried  Tommy  aloud; 
I  m  sure  that's  her  voice."  ' 

He  rushed  to  the  door  hnt  Piior.  «.-  •  , 

a5.^^..erhando.th;^r— ar^-^ 

nlhtr.hir'  "  '  "  ^''  "^  ""''  ^^*^^  '^'^^  -^-^«  -ch  a 
The  door  was  opened,  and  in  stumped  Bid  McGui^an  as 
doleful  an  object  as  could  well  be  imagined.  The  helvv 
drops  were  dripping  from  her  elfln  locks,  a'nd  every  hi  .0' 
her  was  drenched  with  rain,  yet  the  placid  expressi  n  of  he^ 
big  flabby  face  was  no  whit  disturbed. 

The  young  men  laughed  and  Owen  said:  "There  she  ,-• 
now  for  you-the  queen  of  the  fairies.  I  declare  >' 

wit?Ld'"  ^•f.o'r:  'f  *''  '^""^  "^'•^  ^-  °^«^'^  occupied 
with  Bids  pitiful  state  to  pay  much  attention  to  0 won 's  dry 
'okes.    Many  questions  were  put  to  her,  as  to  why  she  wZ 
abroad  at  such  a  time  and  in  such  weather  but  Bi Jonly  shool 
her  head,  and  smiled  and  said  "  Bid's  cold" 

''  It  was  God  sent  her,"  said  Denis  looking  at  the  poor  idiot 
with  tears  in  his  eyes.  "  it  was  God  sent  her.L  a  ha'reof  o„^ 
Hoi  eve  supper.  It's  an  honor  He's  doin'  us.  blessed  be  His 
name!  so  hurry  and  put  dry  clothes  on  her  in'wrilL  W 
here  next  the  Are."  "^'^ 

The  clothes  changed  and  Bid  established  in  the  old  man's 
arm-chair  by  the  comfortable  hearth,  the  table  was  d  awTup 
nearer  the  fii-e  and  the  family  took  their  seats  well-dispoTed  to 
do  justice  to  the  pile  of  buttered  potato-cake,  with  it Wa.^ 
o  he  nicest  oaten  bread,  not  forgetting  the  tradition!  dTsh 
of  caulcannon"  steaming  right  in  froni  of  Denis  wUha  we 
of  melted  butter  in  the  centre.  And  to  be  sure  that  trtbe 
supper  that  was  well  relished.  No  roval  f.rr.'.Z  ^ 
was  as  happy  that  night  as  J^enlsLZC^XlZZ 
r  r  mi:^~  "^^  --''-  ^^  ^-  -nectionTs:! 


IRISH   GIRL   IN    AMERICA.  287 

well  she  fared.  Thw,  .1,.  .  .  •  ^f"""™™  <">  matter  how 
with  keen  relfeh  wS  ev  r  w  fl  'I  ''!  "'='"  ^""^  -«"^ 
ins  w.th  „„,.,„,.„,  eye/thrL'^  nho!  Ztrr'  "?' 
muscle  raovinff  in  her  own      n^  V,^       around  hf?r,  not  a 

wandered  to  L.;::„r:,  the  "rioi-fii  °r"^'-  ■'"  ^^» 

The  young  people  all  laughed  at  the  «r,„ 
voice  and  the  nnmeanin.r  word,  ^'-  "■"'•"'•"ke 

her  che,t.  '  "^  """"■  '"^'"S  ''^■-  '«'  "«'«  hand  on 

amlT'  '"  "'°''""'  "'''  *"  -""'■•  "led  Na„eyn,„eh 

-f-^^^Sn:;?;:^,?.:^' -- --.-- 

"Well!   now  isn't  that  queer,  father'"    said    n... 
seriously;  "see  how  long  she  his  tW  ;      T  '^  ''^''^ 

though  you'd  think  she  ^.^  '*'^'  ^"  ^^^^  n»o«th, 

•      "  But  thZ^  ;'''°^/^o  ^ad  no  memory  at  all  ?" 
iiut  that's  true,  father '"  said  T/^Tv,™     « 

.o::ar/:hre^tf;:rr:r^^^^^ 

about  that."  ^''^    Father  Ryan 

-iit'^di'tweTt:' ''r /'''-"■"' '  ■'™''  '••"»--^" 

wa.  never  wr  L l^w  ^Vl  .1?,'  "  v"  ""'"-"'■'  "'"^ 
•in  to  let  that  mo.T^^L':^,^!:.'''''  ""  »  ■»»«^ 


288 


BRSSY   COXWAY  ; 


OR, 


"Now,  don't  you  know,  Tommy!"  said  the  Father  mildly, 
"  that  tlie  fault  was  Mrs.  Herbert's  more  than  his  1  You  ftoo 
she  tried  to  put  him  out  of  his  situation,  and  make  him  pay 
up  all  he  owed  her.  What  could  the  man  do?  sure  ho 
couldn't  see  his  large  family  of  young  children  turned  out  on 
the  street  1" 

"  Now,  father!  it's  a  wonder  you'd  talk  that  way!"  said  the 
son  so  angrily  that  it  Avas  easy  to  see  the  object  of  the  old 
man's  well-meant  equivocation.  "  You  know  in  your  heart 
that  you'd  starve  and  die  yourself  before  you'd  do  such  a 
thing,  and  what  makes  you  try  to  excuse  that  yu.aint  If 
Mrs.  Herbert  wanted  our  letters  for  her  own  bad  ends,  waa 
that  any  reason  he'd  give  them  to  her,  an'  him  on  his  oath  to 
take  care  of  every  letter  that  comes,  and  give  it  safe  to  the 
right  owner  V 

"  )Vell,  but.  Tommy !  if  you're  a  Christian » 

"  If  I'm  a  Christian  it  doesn't  prevent  mo  from  seeing  justice 
done,"  said  Tommy,  with  a  most  determined  air,  "  and  if  God 
spares  me  life  and  health  I'll  expose  Georgy  Brown  and  the 
Madam  too"— his  face  was  crimson  with  anger,  and  he  struck 
the  table  with  his  clenched  hand.  "  If  the  law  affords  ua 
satisfaction,  we  must  have  it,  and  that's  all  about  it." 

Bessy,  too,  was  of  opinion  that  the  treacherous  postmaster 
should  be  prosecuted.  "  If  Mrs.  Herbert  comes  in  for  a  share 
of  the  disgrace,"  said  she,  "  I  think,  father,  she's  well  deserv- 
ing of  it.  See  how  she  served  you  and  Tommy  when  you 
went  to  ask  her  for  the  letters— if  you  were  dogs,  she  couldn't 
treat  you  ^ny  worse-and  then  she  didn't  even  give  them  to 
you." 

"  How  could  she  give  them,  you  foolish  girl  I  if  she  burned 
them,  or  tore  them  up,  or  something  that  way  1" 

"  Well,  dear  bless  you,  an'  say  no  more  about  it !"  said  Mrs, 
Conway,  "  there's  time  enough  for  all  such  things,  an'  let  tliem 
alone  for  this  night.  Go  on  with  your  supper,  children !  an' 
if  you  want  to  talk,  talk  of  some^.hing  that's  pleasing !" 


TiiK  inrsir  girl  ix  America.  289 

gratitude,  when  „.,  tbi,  k  „f  f  ^  '"■  ""  '"'""''"'■»'  «!«■ 
that  hasn't  bit  or  «,,„  .      Hiousands  an'  Iboosands 

ble^in'  on  l,em  l.T ' '",  T';:'""  ""■"''»'  °'  0°"  »»'  '"T 
"  Ibe  go  rpeol   J '   ""'''  ",r"  »"<>  P'-'y  'o  „,  all  ' 

nigbt,"  said  0.ve„  ^  Lr       T  " ,"""  P'"""  "'  "  '""»  «■• 
month—!'.  '     ""'"''"'  "•'"  ""■>■  '""1  'W"  night  t«l'. 

"  I'M"''  I  tell  yon  to  let  than  alone  '"  said  hi.  ™„.i       • 
tone  of  alarm     "  u  ii,»„  .  .     '  mother  in  a 

"  Wl,v        .1       ,  °"^  ""°  '"  '""'in'  to  you  Owen  1" 

>Vhy,  mother  dear!"  said  the  Rn„  i.„if      •>^.""' ""n  1 

I'm  sayin' nothing  bad  of  them 'w^     ,      "'"°""'''  """" 

tliomill,  I'll  „o  bail  tLv'l    ,  "  '  """"•  »"'"  <"■  did 

be  in  Ms.  Herbert    slo,  tl,      Z  T  """'■    ""'  '  """'"■'•t 

"  And  why  so  0,vet  r  a  .  7^    ""  "  "°"  =""  °'  """"'^ '" 

"  Oh  '  thaf',  t;„.  ''  ""'^  "■'■"'  «««  earnestness 

f-Uriesalonim  re!,;,  ,"•"""  '=°"'''"''  '«  "^  'h- 

ui.  the  rathi:™''  b.^nt::  ■■"' "°-"'° """  ^°  -"  "■■* 
ahi'  wi'ui'f dV:,','::;."'^"  "^^^^ '-  '-'"-•  ••  ^-^y-  -  >  --ly 

oniy  Mi'CrowLdIC  Gr°'"f' ',^"  "  ■""  '»  ''»  '' 
broke  bis  arm  before  ever  7  '"'"'1''-^^  "'»  same  token,  Bill 

the  Job,  and  na  .y  GZes  foTd  Tl  ^  '"^  '"^^  '^'^'^'^ 
deadintl,ebyera'wer„;t";.''"'  ""  "^  ""-  '^'■>' 

.'.eyoome,.„dfa,':n:ay7he;,T""    """  ""^'■"'^  "'^ 

BessI'"  bo,:  Uu'fth*:' '"" '™'  "■° '""' "' "  ""'■■  -M 

^otbin,  more„;,  said"::  thl  u":  ^^oirM'Ir  °- 

13  --.  — 


diJ 


mm 
m 


290 


BESSY   CONWAY  ;    OR, 


J>or  eviction  of  the  pfgmy  cornmuniiv  of  the  rath  Tim 
niernment  whicl.  isualiy  characterize.  Hallon'-ovo  in  Iri^h 
households  was  that  night  ao.ocwlxat  subcluod  or,  account  of 
me  raiserahlo  state  of  the  cout,t  v,  and  the  family  after  ^ayinr- 
thei.  usual  prayers  in  common,  retired  to  rest  early,  a  com" 
furtahio  shake-down  being  made  for  Bid  McOuigan  In  the 
chnnney  corner. 

Next  day  the  wholo  country  was  thrown  into  a  state  of 
foarful  excitement.  Word  went  out  that  Mrs.  Ilorbort  had 
been  found  dead  in  her  bed  that  mornin?,  and  as  soon  as  tho 
awful  news  had  been  fully  verifled,  it  was  set  down  as  an  act 
of  fairy  vengeance.  People  crossed  themselves  and  looked  at 
each  other,  and  shook  their  heads. 

"  She  knows  the  diflbrence  now,"  said  ono  with  reliijioiKj 
solemnity.  ** 

"  I'll  go  bail  she  does,"  said  another,  "  and  I  think  she  has 
her  own  death  to  answer  for-if  she  had  let  the  forth  alone 
she  might  bo  a  living  woman  yet,  for  sure  there  wasn't  a  oray 
hair  in  her  head,  an'  she  always  had  tho  best  of  care  Ha  ' 
ha !  herself  an'  himself  are  both  gone  now-ay  faith  •  whe-e 
they'll  have  no  poor  tenants  to  harry-I'm  thinkin'  there's 
more  landlords  than  tenants  iJiere.'' 

Such  were  the  general  feelings  of  the  people.     Even  Denis 
Conway's  family,  though  shocked  to  hear  of  such  a  death 
did  not  fail  to  view  it  as  an  act  of  retributive  justice  on  tho 
part  of  Almighty  God.    Why  was  it  that  Bessy  alone  felt  a 
softer  emotion,  and  actually  dropped  a  tear  for  the  fate  of 
that  cold,  >arsh  woman  who  had   never  made  a  friend  oa 
earth,  never  had  ono  to  love  her,  unless  it  micrb'     -    ^he 
kindred  spirit  who  had  walked  the  world  with  her  '^         h 
the  years  of  her  wedded  life  ?_why  should  Bessy        ■      ,,^  '■ 
who  had  been  the  worst  enemy  of  those  she  loved!    Mourn 
she  did  not-that  was  certain-yet  there  was  a  "  deep  note  of 
sao^^e..    struck  in  her  heart  by  the  news  of  that  woman's 
nnh.  <>w»d  death.    She  saw  the  terrible  judgments  of  God 


rUK    IRISH    Mi  '    IN    AMK1UC4.  291 

""•  '•"<:<'  "'"yl-ec-a,,,,  1,1,1,  ,,„,„,,"  ";['",'    '™"  ■^'"""S 
wy  to  do  will,  tl,.nM    ic,.i-  ;""■     "  lixt  linil  Bossy  Con- 

.0  I'm,';';:!;:''  i:';;:;/' '™:'  '°^  *'^  '■"■  '™">"<--'ho„5i, 

ino,v  ,vhar^  eol  „  ";j:"f  :,r  'T,  '"  '"  ™'"    '"<>"•' 
"  Well  >  ,vw  ■        "'  ^■"'  """'»  "'"  'ruth  I" 

Anolho,.  ,l„-„„  ly™  r^"' "'    "."°  """"  "'  «°  ">=">)'  '""Sings. 

-■  p-p.0  pail,' t::  r:  :r„:f -2"  ^-m.,  r„.  <:.. 

Bossy's  face  was  s^nrU,  •        ™""' "'"'""«''» said  before!" 

-nn<l  r™  not  alaU  of  an  T*"  "'-"' ''°""'  "'  abroad 

"That's  my  own  good  chl  "  sii.l  ♦!,«  ^i  i 
A  fo-.-t,n-sht  afte    Mr?  r-,    God  blesses  the  obedient  child." 
tl>o  sati,sfa:tion  o    foe  n"  Geo         r'''  ''"""^  "^""'^^  ^-^ 

It  was  understood  tbat'^^rrrl^^^^^^^  '^'  ^^^^«- 

tobearoutheauthoritiL    n      ir         ?T>         ^'''"  ^^*^"Sht 


^ 


'ill 


292 


BESSY   CONWAY;     OR, 


into  consideration  at  a  special  meeting  of  Lodge  No.  — ,  it 
was  duly  resolved  that  Brother  Brown  must  not  be  cxposed'to 
the  dangerous  ordeal  of  a  public  trial.  It  was  not  hard  to 
persuade  the  Dublin  officials  that  a  man  for  whom  my  lord 
Marquis  of  Tumbledown  aud  my  lord  Viscount  Pamperton 
condescended  to  interest  themselves— not  to  speak  of  other 
notable  representatives  of  "  the  landed  interest"— could  not 
possibly  be  far  in  the  wrong,  and  that  dismissal  from  office 
was  a  punishment  quite  severe  enough.  Nevertheless,  Geor^ry 
waa  smuggled  off  with  his  family— to  a  good  farm  on  the 
Tumbledown  estates,  and  the  Con  ways  were  quite  content 
that  the  villain  should  fall  into  other  hands  than  theirs.  So 
long  as  he  was  removed  from  the  situation  of  which  he  had 
proved  himself  so  unworthy,  they  had  nothing  more  to  wish 
in  his  regard. 

Ivy  Lodge  was  a  drear  and  lonely  spot  after  the  death  of  its 
mistress.    Strange  noises  were  heard  of  nights  in  the  halls  and 
chambers,  and  on  the  staircases  forma  which  mortal  eye  might 
not  see  were  felt  brushing  past  the  living.    Autumn's  "  melan- 
choly days"  were  saddening  the  earth,  and  the  winds  were 
abroad  in  the  long  dark  nights,  and  they  made  a  dismal  howl- 
ing  through  the  lofty  halls  of  the  Lodge.    The  few  servants 
left  by  the  executors  to  take  care  of  the  house,  having  their 
imaginations  full  of  gloomy  fancies  on  account  of  the  recent 
disaster,  of  course  set  every  unusual  sight  or  sound  down  for 
something  supernatural.    They  soon  got  frightened  out  of 
their  wits,  and  ran  away  from  the  house  without  waiting  for 
leave  or  license,  wages  or  anything  else.    The  report  spread 
like  wildfire  that  the  Lodge  was  haunted ;  all  manner  of  wild 
stories  were  told  in  relation  to  it,  for  the  inventive  faculties  of 
the  whole  country  were  at  work  on  a  theme  so  fruitful.    Never 
was  poor  spirit  seen  under  so  many  different  shapes  as  that  of 
the  late  Mrs.  Wilson  Herbert,  nor  ever  sounds  so  dismal  and 
80  wild  awoke  the  echoes  of  a  haunted  house.    The  place  was 
utterly  deserted,  save  by  the  venerable  rooks  who,  time  out  of 


THE    IKI3H   GIRL    IX    AMERICA.  293 

Thl'I^'''  f.'/  '?""'  "  ^'^  '-^"^'^"^  ^-«'^^'  --1  the  bate 
hat  flappea  their  leathern  wings  at  evening'^  ghostly  hour 

through  the  silent  halls  of  the  deserted  manor-house 

Seeing  the  ruin  that  was  coming  on.  so  fine  a  place  peoule 
began  to  wonder  what  had  come  of  young  Herbert,  or  XS 
ha  was  st.Il  alive.     With  all   his  faults,  there  was  a  certa  n 

^bat  „,,ght  be  expected  considering  the  detestation  in  which 
1.0th  hKS  parents  were  held.  Now  that  ho  was  probably  de  d 
n.any  fine  traits  of  character  were  remembered  that  b  "re 
ha,.l  passed  unnoticed.  People  began  to  say  :  "Well!  to  give 
t  le  Devd  h,3  due.  Master  Henry  had  a  good  turn  in  him  after 
ali  He  was  a  w,ld  harum-scarum  fellow-every  one  knows 
that-but  sure  ho  done  more  harm  to  himself  than  to  anybody 
else-he  never  harried  the  poor,  anyhow  " 

"'Dood  then  he  didn't,  an'  to  tell  the  truth,  many  a  one 
1  e  relieved  unknownst  to  the  world.  Don't  you  mind  th! 
tmje  Paddy  McGarry's  cow  was  a  drivin'  for  the'Infy  ces!- 
well !  I  know  for  certain  it  was  Master  Henry  gave  him  the 
money  to  go  an'  pay  it  an'  get  back  poor  crummie  for  te 
ch.  der-them  was  his  very  words,  an'  sure  I  had  it  from 
Paddy  s  o«-n  hps,  God  be  good  to  him  !  but  he  bid  him  for  his 
•te  say  nothmg  about  it,  for  fear  of  it  comin'  to  the  ears  of 
his  father  or  mother." 

;' I  don't  doubt  it  a  bit."  would  another  say,  "  for  I  knew 
l.:m  t^  .end  Widow  Fogarty  a  load  of  seed-potatoes  one  spring 
«n  h.m  only  a  gossoon  at  the  time.     If  it  hadn't  been  for  him 
^elly  andthe  children  would  have  been  badlv  off  that  ve^; 
season.     There's   no   one   can   say   but   what 'he  was   u  fine 

c::mp!^"...''"^^  '""""'"  ''  '"  '"'""  ^'^^-  "P  -'^h  bad 
Some  such  conversation   took  place  one  evening  around 

dropt  m  on  their  mW..    An  attentive  observer  mi.h.  ,,... 
noticed  that  the  several  speakers,  although  very  much  iu  earl 


294 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


nest  in  their  remarks,  had  a  secondary  motive  in  view,  for 
many  a  stealthy  glance  was  cast  to'wards  the  corner  where 
Bessy  sat  spinning  flax.    Bessy's  countenance  revealed  no- 
thing.   If  she  was  takijig  note  of  what  passed  no  one  was  the 
wiser  concerning  her  thoughts.    Her  eyes  were  fixed  on  the 
filmy  thread  that  her  delicate  fingers  spun  so  deftly,  and  her 
peachy  cheek  never  chan-ed  its  hue.     Once  or  twice  she  bent 
over  the  wheel  when  there  was  no  apparent  reason  for  exa- 
mining  hack  or  spool,  and  it  might  be  that  a  tear  was  trem- 
blmg  in  her  eye,  but  if  so,  no  one  saw  it  for  Bessy's  face  was 
calm  as  a  summer  lake. 

Seeing  this,  the  visitors  were  taken  quite  aback,  but  some 
were  unwilling  "  to  give  it  up  so-  and  thought  a  change  of 
tactics  might  perhaps  effect  their  object. 

"  But  that's  true,  Bessy!  weren't  you  and  Master  Henry  out 
to  America  together  1" 

^   "We  were  in  the  same  ship,"  Bessy  answered  without  rais- 
mg  her  eyes. 

"  An'  of  coorse  you  know  all  about  him"  after  he  got  there  " 

"  Of  course  I  do  not,"  said  Bessy  with  a  very  quiet  smile  • 

"  surely  you  don't  suppose  I  was  watching  him  all  the  time  ^ 

Tommy"-to  her  eldest  brother-"!  thought  you  were  goin-r 

over  to  the  dyer's  to-night  with  that  wool."  " 

To  be  sure  Tommy  was  going,  and  Owen  with  Tommy,  and 

their  going  was  the  signal  for  a  general  move.    Before  the 

visitors  retired,  however,  one  of  them,  an  ancient  dame  who 

was  the  mother  of  a  large  family  of  grown-up  daughters,  took 

occasion  to -ask  Bessy  would  she  advise  any  of  her  girls  to  go 

out  to  America.     "  There's  Jenny  and  Peggy,"  said  she,  "  an' 

they  have  a  great  notion  of  startin'  next  spring." 

"  Well !  I'm  not  over  fond  of  giving  advice,"  said  Bessy, 
"  but  as  you  asked  my  opinion  I'll  give  it,  and  then  you  can't 
blame  me  one  way  or  the  other.    America  is  a  bad  place  for 
young  girls  to  go  to,  unless  they  havo  their  father,  or  brothers 
or  somebody  to  look  after  them."  ' 


niE    IRISH   (!IRI.   ,x   AMERICA. 


295 


"  Humph  !  who  had  y„„  ,„  l„„k  ^fter  y„„  v 
daJI;;,;  "°'"'"'"-  .i*  have  the  sa^er.  asked  .he 

mother  as  ever  you  were-^n^  I  ^'^  ^""^^^  ^ 

athome-huTtheel  torn!r*™  °"  ^"'"'  ""0  """•-• '*"<i» 

in  wuh  rro.e.t::.::re  .Td'-:;  r  ::;-"■"  r." 

the  oo„„e  or  a  ,Ut,e  time  Wetthrs'e  e  'a",  Z^h::.-:: 
least  they  forget  that  they  have  a  soul  to  be  saved  o"r  a  old  T. 
judge  hem.  Dress  and  flnery,  and  ball,  anTdances  °  an 
the  God  they  have  then,  and  you  may  gues,  its'!  .^Tn  I 
end  they  make  of  it  either  for  body  or  soul  "  *"""* 

"Well,  no,v  that's  curious,"  put  in  another  nei-rhbor    ■■  ,n' 
W,v  tl!'      ."?    ''*'^"''"'""™"'  «'  ■■"■™-  --e'rvo,;  ol" 

reT;!:rrhi:r  v^:  sr  '^  ''•- 

ofthemplaees-theysayshedoes„.tr:::;lt'l':^:^^^^^^ 
Bessy  langhed  in  her  o™  quiet  way.     "  God  help  your  wi, 

.»;,er''t:-i'ha!;e:rif"''~'''"^  °'""" '"-» «-'' 

^T  w  •/  /  Jiappen   to  know  somet hin-r    about   ^nn 

Hiat  d,d,  and  hved  with  her,  too,  she  is  married  loallni^ 
New  York  that's  pretty  well  off-I  think  he's  in  the  groce  " 
bus,ness-she  lives  in  a  fine  house  and  has  very  nice  furnital 
and  all  that,  and  drosses  .„  the  very  height  of  L  asl  o"  t 


290 


BESSl-  CONWAY;    OB, 


her  husband  ,.,  a  ProteM^n^a  .ort  of  a  one-and  poor  An,. 
H-noU„„„  at  all.  m,„,e,f  g„es  .„  oh„„,  „,  „„  „",  7,f  "J'' 
bu  Ann  never  tro-blo.  church  or  chapel,  I  wa,  told  ^  a 
g.rl  hat  lived  with  her  that  when  she  caught  ho  onTni^h" 
teach,ng  her  children  their  prayer^-CatlTolic  prayers  °of 
course-sho  was  very  angry,  and  told  her  not  to  be  ■  bo«  eri,  ! 

t'oTe-arn™;;:;'.'.' ""™  '•"  "'"'"■  ">-•"  >'- «-  ^^ 

f.eI"grrthe'nT"°"'  V"""'  """  '■"'"■«"""''>"  '«''«=«  ">" 

up '"^^jiir^r:^;:'!':;^ .;,;":"'' '"" '"'-  "^-^^ 

The  es    housands  of  Irish  girls  in  New  York  (of  course 
that  s  the  cty  I  know  best)  that  are  as  good  Catho he   Tany 

war     wLT        n     ""t'  '"'  """'''  J"''  "'  "-""y  fte  other 
•^ay.    What  would  you  think  of  an  Irish  girl  that  would  tell 

you  she  was  seven  years  in  America,  and  had  neve,  been  t! 

Sit;.'.'™  "■ ""  "■"'  ""=-"">•"» »-  «■■  'wico  t:c"n! 
oni.Suo:;;::;^^^'"''- ""'''- -'^'-''.■'rou're 

"I  know  that,  mother,  but  I.,n  only  telling  the  truth  and 
God  knows!  n,y  heart  bleeds  to  tell  it.    I  knew  giriLel 
hat  were  just  as  I  say,  some  of  lhe,n  that  would  laugh  Tt  yo 
f  you  spoke  to  them  of  saying  their  prayers  mo,ni„g"„r  „  'b 
and  would  never  think  of  crossing  a  Chu,.ch  door  if  som  bo  y 
d,dn.t  make-lhom  go.    That  all  comes,  as  I  told  you,  otl^Z 
So.ng  out  alone  to  Ame,!ca.  without  any  one  to  advise  J 
d,™ot  then,,  and  them  falling  into  bad  plac'es  at  the  very  L 

if  ,™  r%"'-  °'""°'  "'  ""'''  ^°-^  Sirls  at  home- 
oTng  run  .  "'  "  ""  "'°-''  """  '"'''''  ""^  "  "'»«-  '" 


TJIE    IRISH    GIRL   LV    AMERICA. 


291 


Oirare;  "  ,fs  best  keep  them  under  .  ur  own   eyes      Good 
n^ht.  and  God  bo  with  you  al,."    The  visitors  t^n  .ot" 
Nvondenng  much  at  what  Ihey  had  heard. 


298 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  trrecn  fields  of  Erin  were  covered  with  their  sprincr 
carpet  dotted  over  with  white  daisies  and  yellow  buttercups" 
the  pale  primrose-flower  of  sweetest  memories  I-was  peep- 
ing forth  on  every  sunny  bank;  the  modest  violet  gave  its 
faint  perfume  to  the  air,  and  the  graceful  blue-bell  waved 
Its  fan-y  petals  in  the  gentle  breeze;  the  earth  was  balmy 
with  the  breath  of  opening  flowers,  and  the  trees  were  don- 
ning^ their   summer  foliage  through  the  sunny  showers  of 

Denis  Conway  and  his  sons  were  hard  at  work  all  day-and 
every  day  of  the  six  allotted  for  labor-putting  in  their  crops 
wheat,  oats,  and  early  potatoes.  The  whole  household  was 
astir  from  morn  till  dewy  eve,  each  one  employed  in  their  own 
sphere  of  usefulness.  Nancy  and  Ellen  were  assisting  out-of- 
doors  whilst  Bossy  and  her  mother  attended  to  the  business  of 
the  house  and  the  dairy. 

One  evening  when  the  boys  came  in  from  work  they  men- 
tioned as  something  very  strange  that  there  was  smoke  risin.^ 
from  one  of  the  chimneys  of  The  Lodge. 

"Maybe  there's  some  care-takers  put  in,"  said  Bessy  "to 
keep  the  placo  from  going  to  ruin." 

"Why  to  be  sure,"  said  her  faiher,  "now  I  come  to  think 
of  it;  I  heard  tho  other  day  that  old  Darby  Dolan  and  his 
Wife  were  back  again  in  the  big  house." 

"My  goodness!   it's  a  wonder  they'd  go  back,"  said  Mrs 
Conway,  "after  them  leavin'  it  in  a  fright  like  all  the  rest  of 


rilE    IRISH    GIRL    IN    AMERICA.  O99 

wore  i„  it  "°  """  ™  ""-"""  »f  "">  '""S   <!...<.  acj- 

"  That's  my  notion,  too,"  said  Owen  •  "  Tn,  «.,. 
^een  so  nuich  of  the  Herberts  ^hilo  t^,'  ^''*''''  "'^'' 

know  bettor  ,han  go  next  on  ".   I        ^  T""  ^'''"'  °"^''^^  '<> 

"Lot  U.0  dead  ill  "s  id  th      th  "'"^  ""''^  '^"'•" 
the  matter  ended.  ''''  ''^^''^^"^^'  '''"•^  ^^'^^^ 

It  made  Ilnle  impression  on  BessvV  n.,-n^  /      ,, 
afloat  conceriin^T  ni  r  ^^  ?•      '^'"'^'  ^*^''  ^^^"-^  ''"'nors 

and  .^e\c  jo:;t,?:r*:h:ira?*.  ^  f  °"'  """'"• 

a  di,corda„l  concert  softened,.  ,  ,  '"u""'"  "="""'  "P 

.ar.    The  "tree.  It  ,1,!^,  7  '"""^'  ''"'  ■=''=""•'•■  °"  U'" 

;-'-  .....»=c":  r  eS'n  it'-r.-rr;;  '•'";  "■° 

eave.  „„,  t.e   „„„  ,e™,  trcn^ie/lMT:    rt  ^cTI^ 
the  heart  ,vI„CJ  '  ™'  '""'  °'  "'°"'  "'^Ws  when 

Mould  be  aitate  „,  t,,|,  ,^„^(  j^^^^  ., 


800 


BESSY    CONWAY;    OR, 


and  the  sisters  were  not  without  feeling  the  charm  that  hun- 
around  the  lonely  spot. 

"  Well !  isn't  it  curious,  Bessy  V  whispered  Ellen  as  they 
appi  oached  the  gate ;  "  I'm  not  a  bit  afeard-are  you  r 

"No,  indeed,"  said  Bessy  in  her  usual  tone  of  voice  •  "so 
far  from  being  afraid,  I  could  find  in  my  heart  to  sit  aU  night 
unde'^  one  of  them  old  trees,  with  the  wind  rustlin-  in  the 
branches,  and  tlio  moonlight  dancing  on  that  stream.  Ono 
could  fancy  the  fairies  whisking  about  ou  the  soft  green 
grass."  ^ 

"Bessy  Conway!   it's  all  your  own!"  eaid  a  voice  from 
wiLhm  the  grounds-a  strange  sepulchral  voice  it  seemed 
too-where  it  came  from  the  girls  did  not  wait  to  see,  for 
w,th  an  exclamation  of  terror  they  ran  ofi:  as  fast  as  their 
limbs  could  carry  them. 

On  reaching  their  home  it  was  some  time  before  either  of 
the  sisters  could  tell  what  happened.  Seeing  them  rush  in 
pale  as  death  and  gasping  for  breath,  the  others  were  almost 
as  frightened  as  themselves,  and  more  questions  were  asked 
than  they  could  possibly  have  answered. 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  girls  !  what  did  you  see  V'  asked 
their  father  after  standing  some  moments  silent,  waiting  for 
them  to  speak. 

"Nothing at  all,  father !"  said  Bessy.  stiU  panting,  "  we  saw 
nothing— we  only  heard:' 

"  Lord  bless  us  !  and  what  did  you  hear  V  cried  the  mother 
eagerly. 

_  The  girls  looked  at  each  other.  They  hesitated  to  tell  hav- 
ing each  a  misgiving  that  it  was  a  warning  of  some  kind. '  But 
the  more  unwilling  they  seemed  to  speak,  the  more  anxious 
ne  others  were  to  hear.  At  last  Ellen  told  what  they  had 
heard.  Her  mother  clapped  her  hands  and  cried  out  "God 
save  my  child  !"  The  father  said  nothing,  but  shook  his  head, 
whilst  the  young  people  tried  to  put  it  ofl-with  a  laugh,  seelncr 
how  frightened  the  others  were. 


TIIK    IRISH   GIRL    IX    AMERICA. 


•^01 


a  Zed  h.!!;;;'".  •?  ;™^''>'  ^^  ^-.  ^'^I^!'  -id  Owon  With 
good  turn."       '  ^'  ^''^^^  '-'^  ^"  ^^^-  dark,  it'll  do  ,ou  a 

-i^ti:  elder  :;^r^^^^^^        Plavm-  .tnck  on  you,  Be.,!- 

"  ^^^^ '  whatever  it  was  "  ■qiiri  n 
"I'<1  -thor  hearnon^oroaiout;;-      "'  "  '  "'^'^"^^  *-^' 

There  was  something  in  her  lont  ..i  -     , 
sner.ced  them  all,  and  thesul  LV        ,        '"  ^^'*"  ^«'^«  "'at 
Not  many  days  after  an  m  ^  '^  ^'"'^P'^^  '^•-  ^^'^^  ^ime. 

-ce,  no  j«  a  i::!:'Z:'^;;^z:'u:  Tt ''  -'^'^ 

fright  which  the  ffirls  had  crJ      \   I  ^  ^'""^  ^'^''''^  ^^  the 

HKe  all  other  ^o^ae:r!^ttZ:'::\:^i:^'':'  "^"''  ^^^^-•-' 

passing  from  mouth  to  mouth  L        T"""^  considerably  in 

onVinal  narrators  wouM  :    1^  ernt:d'r-^^''  ''''  ''' 

adventure  in  tho  well-.arnished   ilu     u    u       "  ""'"  '™P^« 

made  up  piece  by  piece     An  n     '''',^'^'^^  "'«  P^^^^c   l^ad 

by  implication,  wa  sure  to  ^o        "  Ti'"""-"  '^  "^'^  ''^-^d'  -en 

I^ad  the  facult;  of  cenl.  o     T'n      '""'  '^^^"^"'^"'  ^"^  ^- 

docs  his  game      slmw        tT^ '''''''''''''''' ^  r>olntev 

Of  the  Conway  gWs'  adf  T   '^  ""'  '"  ''''  ^^'^^^  ^^^  ^'oa^d 

Off  he  startJcftf    ei  ttt;e%?'^\''  ''''  ^^''^-'^  ^-- 
himself.  """^^^  ^"^  investigate  tho  matter  for 

would  think  you  had  °  '  f  ,        ""  ''=°'''°  '>'*.  »»» 

Could   I  .peak  .  word  :  •  h  Tl^"'   '"'^'    "'"    -"-»»■ 

•■  if  your  dauahtor  ne^e'r  dife„o,ld  T""  "  «'"'"■"  '  """-^ 
wmor  than  Billy  Poto  .he  *!?„'"      '"""'S'"-  "■■  '""><1- 
So  (he  tTOwalkedonr     ?''"""»'"'»"«-*'' is'" 
«.»e  .hoy  reac:ed  t  .tend  oTh     f  '"r  ,'"-"°*^^'  "°''  ^^  '"» 
<'«..tial,  and  when  they  Parted   ,7.         ^'■°™  """"•  <•"«- 
..nderslanding  that  they  C!,  "  "''''"'■  "  ™»  »•'■">   -•■■ 

"ming  ou  th;  eronit       '"'  '"  """"  »='""  '"  "«>  ^-".o  plaoe 


302 


RKSSY   CONWAY  ;     OR, 


Her  mother  and  sisters  were  very  mud,  puzzlo.j  to  know 
what  ^^•as  going  on  between  Bessy  and  Humpy  Billy.  « if  ho 
hadrj't  a  wife  and  children  now,"  said  Nancy  with  a  merry 

aiigh,      wo  d  be  suspectin-  Bomething,  but  as  it  is  I  don't 
know  what  to  make  of  it.     Tell  the  truth,  now,  isn't  it  some- 

lm.g  about  the  ghosts  ?^suro  every  one  knows  that  Billy's  a 
kind  of  a  ghost  himself." 

Bessy  put  it  off  with  a  laugh,  but  the  color  rose  to  her 
check  when  she  found  her  mother's  eye  fixed  on  her  with  a 
keen  and  searching  look.  Neither  spoke,  however,  and  the 
gir  s  hurried  away  to  resume  the  work  which  Billy's  entrance 
had  interrupted. 

When  the  cows  were  milked  that  evening,  and  the  milk 
strained  up,  Bessy  tied  a  handkerchief  over  her  head  and 
throwing  a  light  shawl  round  her  shoulders,  stroHed  do  'n  the' 
boreen  little  affected  by  the  raillery  of  her  sisters  and  brothers 
-the  latter  having  been  put  in  possession  of  the  joke  as  soon 
as  they  entered  the  house. 

''If  I  was  you,  Bessy,"  said  Owen,  "  I'd  have  nothing  to  say 
to  Billy  Potts— sure  the  whole  parish  knows  what  >-  is." 

"  Will  you  not  be  botherin'  me  now,  Owen  V  she  replied 
with  a  good-humored  smile  ;  "  do  you  think  Billy  has  dealings 
with  the  fairies  that  he'd  make  sale  of  me  to  them  t  Never 
fear  but  I'm  wide  awake-I  have  travelled  too  far  to  be  asleep 
on  my  feet.  The  only  thing  I  ask  of  you  all  is  that  vou'll  not 
be  watching  to  see  where  I  go  to." 

She  was  gone  before  any  one  could  speak  a^ain.  She  knew 
her  wish  was  law  to  the  whole  family,  and  that  no  one  in  the 
house  wouhKfollow  her  to  the  door  after  what  she  had  said 

At  the  cross  roads  below  she  found  Billy  in  punctual  attend- 
ance,  and  on  the  two  walked  side  by  side,  taking  the  wav  to  St 
Pinian's  Church.  "It's  curious,"  said  she,  "what  a'notion 
I  have  got  in  my  head  about  seeing  th«  old  Church  ever  since 
Paul  told  that  story.  Long  as  I  lived  about  Ardflnnau  before 
I  never  cared  to  go  next  or  near  it." 


THE   W.mi   GIRL   I.v    A.MI.:,MCA. 


803 

'»  »ee  it  again.    Now  „    it          '"  ?■"' '"'"  ■""  B''^"'  "M, 
for  all  /  k„ow-I  declare    ,,„  "  ''"  '""y '"'  -^'^ '. 

tl'o  AbWy,  a„d  stood  t„/etl"JTn  L  of     f  "°"  ™'^'""' 

rolgnod  Lore  wbo„  Iho  hoh  nil       '°"°  """'■     "  S"™™ 
■"■ould  bo  n„„oi»o„    di,NH         ^'"■"°  """i  ^"'y  tiioro 

quiet  gr„vo3.    But  ,tb    r/ro    r  "?  "'""  "■^^''^  "'  "-"■ 
tog  on"  ""  "^  "'™'  !■'>"«  Paul  was  ,,,eak. 

"^'iX'a'tlitbl"-"  ;;'"'„.;"'  ""-'■  ■■'"  "■»  w-^ 

"est  come  in  beforo  it  goU  a,  via'  „         '"  f  °  "'™'  >»"'<' 
te  tj.a  ,,  ,  .„  ,„„„^,^  ^^^-7  !ate.  „  „a,bo  ,o,.  .o,.,d.,. 

P'aco    cr,;,  tbat  Fatho,-  Et^nt     ^ to  ','  '  ""' '"  "'^  ""> 
one  of  tbcso  days.    Ho  ,.v,  i/'.  .  °  "'™  "'"1  <^omo 

places  now  and  then  '     "^    ' "  »""""''''  ""'"S  to  visit  such 

yo^tTu'r-ati'di:::;?;::  ■'■=  T'  "-^  --  ^  - 

«  certain  motion  of  Bel?,   ' , f;  f""  f '"    ""  had  caught 

or  tbe  cross.      Bess/^iiiUti  t  ^a  '^  '""  ™  "">  »'«» 
liuilding.  ^aiiiuy  and   they  entered   the 

The  place  M-as  not  dark  for  fim  ^^     • 
through  many  a  rent  in  the  1      !       "'"=  '""  '''''  «'''"'"?  ^ 
gray  stones  and  1^1^    ^.f  "'"^^l-^^'  ^'l^ing  the^M 
forgotten,  and  f^^t:^--^^^ ^^  ^-.  «ince 

"  r^  01  light  and  beauty 


!.'i 


lii; 


304 


BESSY    CONWAY  ;     OR, 


over  the  loiipr,  dank  Rrass  and  the  broken  colnmna  and  shat- 
tcrt'd  romainR  of  arch  and  corbel. 

"Blo^od  Mother,  who  is  that?"  oxdaimed  Bessy  In  a  voice 
of  terror,  catching  hold  of  Billy's  arm.  "Look  mere!  look 
there !" 

Following   the  direction  of  her   eyes,   Billy  observed   the 
flguro  of  a  man  kneeling  in  front  of  the  ghastly  pile  which 
IMS  hands  had  reared.    It  was  a  thin,  attenuated  form  bo.ved 
^vltl.  weakness  or  with  sorrow-perhaps  ])oth-and  the  face 
Been  in  profile,  was  sharp,  and   pale,  ard  woe-worn-very 
unlike   one   well   remembered,   yet    Bessy   trembled   as   she 
looked,  and  Billy  muttered  half  aloud  :  "  If  it's  not  himself 
It's  his  ghost,  or  an  evil  spirit.    You'd  best  come  away,  Bessy 
it'rt  nothing  good,  you  may  be  sure !"  ' 

lie  tried  to  draw  her  away,  but  go  she  would  not.  "  Let  It 
bo  as  it  may."  said  she,  "  I'll  see  it  out  before  I  go.  flush  ' 
ho  hears  us!" 

It  was  not  so,  but  the  figure  slowly  arose  and  moved  to 
another  side  of  the  choir,  then  knelt  again  with  his  back 
towards  them.  They  retreated  farther  into  the  shade  and 
Bessy  whispered  in  a  tone  of  horror:  "  It's  his  ghost  Billy* 
it's  his  ghost-who  knows  but  that's  his  punishment,  forever 
going  round  and  round  them  bones!" 

»'  Hut,  tut,  you  foolish  girl !"  said  Billy  In  the  same  low 
whisper,  "  sure  you  couldn't  see  a  ghost  before  sun-down  !" 

Again  the  figure  rose  and  moved  to  another  point  then 
knelt  as  before,  and  Bessy  saw  a  crucifix  between  the  clasped 
hands.  This  made  her  heart  beat  quicker,  but  when,  xvatch- 
ing  the  face  intently,  she  saw  the  color  come  and  go  and 
finally  saw  the  hand  raised  to  wipe  away  a  fallinrr  tear  she 
l03t  all  control  of  her  feelings,  and  cried  out  in  Ihrillina 
accents :  * 

"Oh,  Herbert!  Henry  Herbert!  is  it  you  that's  in  it  ?  if  the 
bre.ith  of  life  is  in  you  speak  to  me,  for  God's  aake!" 
A  voice  came  from  the  lips,  but  the  figure  remained  motion- 


THB   IRISH   OIRI.   ,.v   AMEHIOA. 


305 


I caunot 


iiumjih  '"  said   IJ'Il 

t'>"'o  «a.s  il«,i;,„,i  hI,',ofl  iriilafl'^  ;°"'I'o«"re,  "  f  thousht 

f'^ith  !  it's  mad  ho  is,  or  It  "„     h       T  "'^  ''  '''"  ''""««'    «"». 

"'•^^ '    ir  you  tako  n  y         "  ^ '^'^^  '^  '^  ^^^  such  trado  a, 

-«  fast  a.  you  can-no  onoca;t       1    ""'"^' '  >'°"'"  ""''J^o  ^"ft- 

"  That  is  not  the  f^co  of  a  n    f      '''  "'  '"'^^  ^"^«  "--f-" 

^"•".",  "«eo  ho.v  fervent  ;L  .''"''  ""''  '''"^^  ^^'"  ^^-- 
I.i.s  heart!"  ""^  ^'"  '"^^y«'    Oh?  if  Ood  has  touche^I 

^-ely.  "  it.  a  tr^^IZir'r''''' '"  ^'^'^  -"'3'  pro- 
win  a  bet."  ^'^'^'"^'  *'»"d  "otJ'ins  eI«o-maybo  to 

By  this  time  Herbert  ho,!  a,  •  i    , 
tl.o  placo  wl.ero  Bo.,.y  .Z^fl'"'""  ■■■^'^''^•'  ■^=""»  forward  to 

7»  to  ,.oacI,  „„.  1,„  „;:";„:  ;;■","   -•    "i»  «-t  ,•,„„„„„ 

tb™a.ai„,  l,o.,aid,„o„r„;„  !      ■  '"'  '""'-■'"J' ».-.W™>vi„; 
No!  no!  I  dare  nnf  i     r        ' 

"Mr.   Ile,.ber.   ?:«';''''•'"  ""''"'■^''' 
;■  "Lat  I,a»  eomo  over  you  at  an  ' '"  ". ''""'°  """l^  «"JiWe, 

a  ».ro  J  eS  ■'.:::;;:, ,::'  ertt°"'"  v"""''  """°^'  "•"'■  . 

ono  Who  has  ou.ragea  heaven  b°  hi,  17^°  """"'^  .™" 
*as  compromised  you  i„  p„r.uit  of  ■  "'•^'""'"«-o..e  «1,„ 
t.o„-„ue  ,vho  ha,,  i„  sh,mtnmnL  '"?  """'''  «'»"«"■ 
passion,"  ""'■  f"'""0'l  no  doty,  restrained  no 

"  Mr.  Herbert  J  Mr.  Herbert  ■"  eried  P 
■■er  liand,  in  horror,  '.for  Ood,  ll      "'''  ''°''""«  "P  ''"tl. 
never  co„M  have  been  ,„  bad  i't'hau^  "^  "°  ""^  '    >- 

■'ir-  ■•• 'ad,  yonT:;:!!""'-'"?.""  '-^  With  a  de,p„„din„ 
°— -u,a  not  know  how  bad  I  was!" 


I 


.fr 


306 


BESSY    CONWAY;     OR, 


"Faith!  you  were  bad  enough,  Master  Henry!"  put  in 
Billy  with  his  stony  smile;  "to  my  knowledge,  there  wasn't 
an  ill  turn  done  about  Ardflnnan  but  you  were  hand  and  foot 
in  it  ever  since  a  yard  of  cloth  made  you  a  coat." 

"That's  right,  Billy!  that's  right!  heap  it  on  and  spare 
not,"  said  Herbert  mildly,  "  you  can  say  nothing  worse  than  I 
deserve." 

This  touched  the  old  man's  heart,  hard  as  it  seemed  to  be, 
and  the  tears  actually  started  in  his  eyes  as  he  exclaimed  in  a 
glow  of  feeling:  "I'll  never  say  an  ill  word  of  you  again, 
then,  Master  Henry!  never  while  breath's  in  my  body!— there 
was  good  to  be  said  of  you  the  worst  day  ever  you  were, 
and,  by  the  laws  !  the  bad  is  all  gone  now,  however  it  happens.'' 
Bessy  still  stood  in  wordless  anxiety  looking  up  in  Herbert's 
altered  face.     Suddenly  he  raised  his  eyes  and  ventured  to 
meet  her  gaze  for  the  first  time.     "  Bessy  !"  3aid  he,  his  pale 
cheek  flushing  like  a  young  maiden's,  "  Bessy !  I  have  been 
guilty  before   God  and    the  world,   but   not  before   vou-I 
have  never  injured  you  in  thought,  in  word,  or  in  deed— I 
have  loved  you,  God  only  knows  how  well,— you  have  been 
my  star  of  hope— my  rock  of  safety  amidst  the  racrincr  billows 
of  this  sinful  world-it  may  be  that  you  have  praj^edl-or  me- 
tji  .haritif'—he  said  with  emphasis—"  if  so— if  at  any  time 
you  have  invoked  the  God  of  mercy  on  my  behalf,  and  Mary 
the  refuge  of  sinners,  you  will  now  rejoice  even  as  the  angels 
of  heaven  do— in  a  sinner's  conversion  !" 

The  tears  gushed  from  Bessy's  eyes,  and  drawing  a  step 
nearer  shejaid  her  hand  on  his  arm.     "Are  you  in  earnest 

Mr.  Herbert !— may  I  indeed  hope "  ' 

"Hope  everything,  Bessy!"  he  replied,  his  voice  uncon- 
sciously assuming  that  softened  tone  in  which  he  was  wont  to 
address  her.  "  Like  the  prodigal  of  old  I  have  returned  from 
the  desert  of  sin  to  my  Father's  house,  and  have  found  true 
peace  within  the  one  fold,  where  alone  man  can  expiate  sin 
and  wash  his  soul  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb." 


THE    IRTSH    f;iRT,    IN-    AMERICA. 


807 


Mr.   Herbert »    Honry  Herbert!    you  don't  mean    to  say 
that  you  are  a  Catliolic  V  cried  Be.sy  in  utter  amazement. 
^^      It   I  were   anytf.ing  else,"  he  replied  wit>>    a   sad  .mile 
wculd  you  find  me  undergoing  a  penance  like  that  V     And 
he  pointed  back  to  the  f«;ene  of  his  former  sacrile-e      •'  This 
IS  tko  ninth  day  that  I  have  done  what  you  saw  m«  do  but 
now,  a.d  that  painful  task  I  imposed  on  my.elf  as  an  atone- 
ment for  t!,o  sacrilegious  outrage  of  which  these  consecrated 
walls  and  those  venerated  relics  were  the  witnesses  and  the 
obJec^3  !     If  you  still  doubt  me,  ask  Father  Ryan-he  can  tell 
you  all— much  more  than  I  have  told  you  yet." 

"  I  will  ask  lio  ocie-I  believe  all  you  say  V  said  Bessy  her 
voice  broken  with  sobs,  "but  how-when-where  did  this 
blessed  change  take  place  1" 

That's  jist  what  I  want  to  hear,"  put  in  Billy.    "  Whoever 
did  it,  it  was  a  great  job  entirely!" 

Without  heeding  the  sexton,  Herbert  sat  down  on  a  broken 
column  that  lay  near  and  invited  Bessy  to  follow  his  example 
adding  with  a  faint  smile :  "  I  am  not  the  man  I  was,  Bessy  -J 
God  knows  if  I  ever  shall  be  V 

"  Oh!  Mr.  Herbert,  don't  speak  that  way!"  said  Bessy  with 
ti  gush  of  feeling  that  brought  the  tears  to  her  eyes,  "you'll 
bo  soon  as  well  as  ever,  please  God!" 

Herbert  shook  his  head  despondingly  and  sat  a  few  mo- 
menta silent  with  his  eyes  cast  down,  then  raising  them  sud- 
denly he  turned  them  on  Bessy,  and  seeing  the  tears  which 
she  sought  not  to  hide,  he  smiled  with  something  like  his 
former  gaiety  and  went  on : 

"  You  ask  me  when  and  how  I  became  a  Catholic  I  will 
go  back  a  little  in  order  to  answer  your  question  in  a  satisfac- 
tory manner.  You  must  have  heard  that  I  was  not  in  New 
York  when  you  left  for  Ireland.  I  had  gone  with  Dixon  to 
BaL.more  on  what  he  called  '  a  speculation,' that  is  to  say  a 
gamol.n-  expedition,  my  excellent  friend  having  reason  'to 
baliove  that   hm   line  of  business   was   brisker   there   than 


at 


308 


BESSr    C0N;7AY  ,•    OR, 


a.tho„„h  the  agr;e>„e:    iuZllTZc  '""  """• '  "'"^ 
vision  of  Urn  nrofil,  „.!,„„  •.  slarling  vras  a  fair  cli- 

for  BalUmoro.    I  was  »^rv  »„„!  '"°  ''•  """  »"' 

turned  alone  lo  Now  V 'f/^    '  "'  ^°"  "'"'' ''«""''.  •■>'"'  «- 

a..a  t„e  .::;ifer:i^.:f\;a"7tr''!rr  ?^"'°^'  "'^^ 

<-xl,a„.„„„  at  tl,o  time  a  raUotlherlfr      "■'■'■"''""' 
man  co„l,l  l,e.    Even  the  oomfort  of  1        "  ""'"""'  '' 

;oro  z  ,.earAn:t  iz:^:  ir^;  ;;r>;\r 

For  me,  I  care  not  wl,„  'l.no!  "  T  , '''"',  ""  "■'"'"'  '™"' ' 
angry  wiu,  „>o,  for  ,„„  k  t  ^t  «  af  L™"'/"  ""'  "" 
thought  it  wouM  srieve  one  hear  wW  ,,,'„"',;  .''"^-I 
my  life  to  win— I  thought    f,>r„!.  „  '""'''  8»'™ 

iu.n,y.,e,f  to  destruc  fon  T™  p  antL  a'n  '  ""V"  ''"°'- 
"«  heart  that  had  .o  coldly  .^Z^T^tLZZlTZ  '" 

au«el    What  wonder  *at^\ti::;;:  ryVeSl":"! 
for  an  w.ckednes3.    But  heaven  ordain  J  that  I  w  ar„„tT 


THE    IRISH   GIRL    ly    AMERICA.  309 

opposite  direction.  My  deliverm-,  «  J  ""mediately  ,n  an 
conyeyed  me  at  ono.  L  o„  *"'''"=  "»  ""  '""  ''■""1 
pened't o  b^  he Irest  and  eon'"""?  """''"■  "«^"  ^"P" 

«cio„;,r  '""""  '""™"""'  »-^.  half  uncon- 

hs  fiend  MiVi»  m;ji;„o     »,    -^         saw  rau!  l>rannigan  and 

«.te„  we,;:'::i«'i'r  rr:^  :-■  rryrr '" 

wounds.    'Thankfinrli'oaM  *»,    ■        ,,  aressmfr  my 

opened  „y .;:  .^'n'^^ ,?.  ^ 'r,:!;/:"^" ''^  r^ ' 

poor  soull'    I  never  f«r.rnr  *^  f  ^  '^''''"^^  ^<^''  '"« 

vor  With  Which  the;"J~,ra:d",  t'  ""^'^  *'^"''"^"  ^«^- 
the  fear  of  «n^'o  *    ,     ^         '    °^'  ^'^*  *  ^^^h  of  lightnincr 

tLt  :;deifet:we'rr/''"^^'*^^^^^       ^  ^^'' 

forbid  LtoTpeak  1^1?'  "l"'  ""''  "'*''^"^^  *^«  ^««'- 

filled  with  adt  JL  t^hHld  :'r  ""^^^^'^"-    ^  -« 
that  thi«  poor  man  whom  rrJ^^'f'  way«  of  God,  seeing 

Iiospital-bed,  Pan!  neve";  failed  to  ."'7''  '"^'^  '  ''^  '"  "^ 

«oon  began  to  look  In  ,  ''*  ™^  '^^^'"^  ^^.^.  ^nd  I 

fa^  a.  rj  .-r.'A^'^f  l^^^^i-  '"•«  q-er.  old-fashioned 

---  ---^  -xiytniflg.    The  stumping  sound  of  his 


310 


BESSY    CO.VWAV  ;     OR. 


heavy  foot  was  music  to  my  ear  for  T  «rna    •  i 

to  mv  bed   nnrl  ^  '  ^^^  ^'"^^  ^"*^  confined 

my  oea,  and  ho  was  mv  only  visUnr     v„.  i  ..     i 

i»>Heait.  Hespoketomeoftheeternaltruths-of.lo.,.!    •    . 

s  «rr  "f ',""'  °"" '  -■-"»-' ^"'^  1   '>i;;  i 

Tved    hli  ,,f:"  1  '"  "'"  """"'-'-"in,  sisters  a,,  thev 
me  to  W,  w!f  if  Z     "'"'""'"g  '<>  ae  Mok,  a„d  a»koi 

W     ,    n    •  °«  °'  ™^  di^Posilions  from  Paul.  tl,e  dZL 

jomed   tl,e,r   pio„,    ezhorlations   to  the  I„s,r„c  ion   l\Z 
already  received,  a„J,  by  the  time  I  became  cr4,"sce.     I 

^n:  :o":rut?.."  ^^-^  ^"'^"- '- "-  ^'-'  -"':- 

;;  Thank  God  !■•  murmured  Ee..y  with  intense  fooling. 

Billy.    "What  w.ts  be  had  are  gone  entirely  M.  ^ 

Ilerbcrt  looked  at  him  with  a  smile,  then  went  „, .  «  r„v 
.ns  the  Hospital,  I  paid  the  Sisters  f;.  their  Tronble  i^T 
fullest  extent  of  my  means-barely  reservi"  en  ut  to  ,!l 

.rst:rrt„Ttrr '■T^-"--"~™^^ 

rl«hf  T  rr,  '        '  '^'^  ^  '''''^'  "«  ^«c"«v  could  pay  th^ 

»:::  ofratr;riL:;i— - -- "-'™ - 
ou:r;:L^d";r^.:r;r::r]r::- 

-hen  tribes  scattered  T^  ^^^rSr  I'sl^U 


""=    """"   «"".   >N    AMEniCA. 


pnlh  on  ,vMc,,  I  „'<,„„'"  i"  "7",,"""  ''  "■"  ""^  '"  "'" 
"ew  Jerusalem.  ■  We  nJlT'"  "•''"'  """  '™*  '»  "'« 
l.e.  rai,,-,,-;  Ms  soft  dark  eves  !1  ?"""  "*'"''"  ""  ™'"'.' «ai'l 
Lome  ..-and  „e  pol„te,  „p,var<,  J  tT™'  ' ""  •™"""  '^  "" 
ll.-st  star  of  evenin.r  was  i„'    ,"     •  '"'"'''  ™""  "•'"■'■''  »'» 

«'™.,gl,  tl,e  wilderness  of  nS  ,  r    ,        ""'  ™^  "'"'  '"=* 
I'eaven,  a,„,  ,,e  „,Xn  1!  '     '"%'",""'  ^oMo,,   gates  of 

I  hope  to  see  ,„,.  a,a  ,    m '  1^:™"  '"!  '""""■'  *'"  '■     T'-ro 

-W,  you  and  ali  I  .o"v  1  e,  h  ,r„""  \"  """'""  '""''  "^'"■^'> 
of  oternity.'  Oh'  Bessv  Ms  "™"S'"""  <•>»  '"'"f^s  ages 
I  ftlt  at  t,fe  n,o,„e„f  Is"   r'T'*  "»''»  "'^  "-«  <l.rill,  and 

if»  you  „,at-s  in  it  i  oo„ M",,ard,    r'v    °  P^^'-^ly  I  know 
'o"»"  i»  it  since  yon'  IZl't^Zt  "^""^  ■'■^-  -^'  '    I""  >- 

-nT^drlJrlaX-r^^^^^ 

M  and  Willing  obediene'e T  tis  ^  "^  """"^^^  ='-- 
a  Chnstian  of  her  by  showin,.  her  what  »  I  '  '  '°  "^'"' 
'>«de  in  me,  b„t  relribnt  „        .        .    "'"'''"^'"■''"sion  had 

before  I  conld  ask  I    r  b,  1  „r   '^  '"'  '"'"»  "<■■•  "o"™ 
l-ast  „nenees_and  then  ihl  r°  °      °  """'"  '"  ^P'^'"  -y 

in  all  Prohabinty,Vi«U  ';        :r";,r,T"  «  '""'  '"'  ■""' 
"r  that  eternity  in  which  she  wis  s'o  s^^nf       T  "'  °""' 
o..t  a  moment's  preparation.    My  ,°Z     """  ","'„""""  """■ 
Krieved  for  the  yeara  that  were  na '^  L      '"   '  ""'' '  ■"•"■  ' 
-cb  a„  Of  „s  w„„M  ba.e  ra-^I  mrr 


312 


BESSY    CONWAY 


OR, 


worlds  were  they  mine  to  have  my  parents  still  alive  were  ifc 
only  to  ask  their  forgiveness  and  toll  them  hov/  sorrv  I  was 
for  my  past  disobedience.     Too  late !  too  late !  all  resolved 
itself  into  tliat  one  sad  thought,  and  I  was  utterly  wretched. 
I  found  myself  possessed  of  wealth  and  houses  and  lands, 
but  I  saw  the    old    homestead    lono   and    desolate,   and   I 
missed   them,,   cold  and   hard  and    unloving   as  thev  were. 
My  first   consolation  was   found    in   a  visit   to   your   good 
old  pastor.  Father   Ryan,  whose   paternal   kindness   soothed 
->y  tortured  heart  as  his  counsels  directed  me  in  the  right 
rath.     I  felt  that  I  had  found  a  friend,  wise  and  prudent  iTnd 
deeply  interested  in  my  welfare,  temporal  and  spiritual.    That 
WAS  one  point  gained.    By  his  advice  I  paid  a  visit  to  the 
Abbey,  the  scene  of  my  sacrilegious  folly,  and  there,  amoncrst 
the  mouldering  relics  of  mortality,  meditated  o»  the  end  of 
man.    Sitting  on  yonder  tomb,  I  asked  myself  how  it  hap- 
pened that  I  alone  was  spared  of  all  who  had  desecrated  the 
house  of  God  by  unhallowed  revelry.     Father,  mother,  com- 
panions,  all  were  gone-why  was  I  left  1— why  was  I  shown 
the  way  of  truth  when  they  all  lived  and  died  in  the  darkness 
of  error  7— why  waa  not  I,  too,  cut  off  in  my  sins  1    Filled 
with  gratitude  that  God  had  dealt  so  mercifully  with  me  I  so 
unworthy  of  His  least  favor,  I  humbled  myself  before'  His 
awful  majesty,  and  inflicted  on  myself  for  nine  successive  days, 
by  way  of  expiation,  the  penance  which  you  have  seen  me 

undergo.    I  have  now  told  you  all,  except " 

"  Frightening  Ellen  and  mo  that  night  up  at  the  house,"  said 
Bessy  quickly,  "  I'm  afraid  you  have  that  to  answer  for  as 
well  as  the  rest !"  ' 

"I'll  be  sworn  he  has!"  cried  Billy  chuckling  gleefully; 
"  I  was  just  thinkin'  when  I  heard  of  it  that  if  my  gentleman' 
was  above  ground  it  was  him  was  in  it.  Oh !  faith  yes,  I  knew 
it  bravely." 

"  Well!"  said  Bessy  drawing  a  long  breath,  « it's  so  like  a 


''"''  '^''''  «^«f'  i-v  .,rnmcA. 


t^'-f^am  that  lean  har.Ilvh  r- 

"Mrs.  Murphv'.s  wnT-ai  • 

;«°  it  appoa„,;*;  rrP^^^^^^^-'^ea,,.  then  ," 

'»M  me  that  when  Poarv  ani,,?      "      '""""  ''•""  ".-Paul 
"■>■«-...  they  ,vi„  an    Ze  hlX  T  ""'"  '"■""'■"■"  -o™ 

f-l  -hat  ab„„t  Pa,„    i     eT/p.?'  "■"  "°°^-" 
him  here!"  """' '   ' *"">  "er  30  glad  to  see 

"Paul  has  no  notion  of  comtn™    .     • 
b;™-,„„d  tssotaSen,,,  ™"i;;;  s  "  "»-?  a  nice  l,t,e 
S  .  James'  Church,  and  rar  r,  ,      ,  ''^'  ®''''°'"  ■='"«  in 

which  he  is  ensaged  th,t  ZT    T"'  '"'"''  "'  '""i'y  in 

•^"0  that  he  never  for.^ets  to  pnv  fl  ""  '""  •""  ""■''■  »"" 
for  Wm.  Another  rne^.J.ll'l'''  ^^'l'  "^  '">  hopes  yon  do 
another  opportunity.  Tire  de"!  f,n-"'  '  ""'  ''^■''^"•0  ">'•"  f«r 
•-^  bet.       etrace  o„r  ^'Z:::^:;^!:  ™'''  -<>  ''"i.*  « 

*o  ground  as  h'^htl/as  t  ^Vh  t ll"      ^'T'"  ''"""■"S  »'•- 
ric-  was  in  a  great  hurrv  ho^!  "'"y  Propelled  a  grasshopper 
"■"e«as  Ilerh;,,  and  BLyTalr; f".^ ,''  '■■-  '»  hil':,r 
managed  to  keep  Billy  i^Iiihf'.f""""'""''    Still  they 
OentV  moderated  his  pace  If  L,"    "'"  ""'"=  »""  '•«'■>'  P".- 
-arahot.    It  „,,  strange  tha°Br     v^  '■"   '°  '■™»''"  '"''"» 
afraid  of  heing  seen  i^n  Herlertw    "  ""'  '=™  '"=  ''-'t 
srfebysidcvith  him  as  co™„"  >,""'■'■'  >""  ™'k°'I  ™ 

'-  -ays  heen  ah^e  rsp^^^' ^^^d ''i^'r'- 

"au  ail  at  once 
14 


314 


BESSY    CONWAY;     OR, 


acquired  an  easy  conOdenco  of  manner  and  a  porfecL  hvU- 
possession  that  were  very  remarkable  in  one  so  modest  and 
retiring.  It  seemed  as  if  by  anticipation  she  felt  herself  mis- 
tress of  Ivy  Lodge,  looked  up  to  by  all  the  country  round, 
and  scattering  blessings  on  every  side.  Now  that  Herbert  was 
converted  from  his  evil  ways,  she  cared  not  wlio  saw  thorn 
together,  for  in  her  heart  she  was  proud  of  his  affection. 
And  well  she  might,  for  with  liis  fortune  and  personal  advan- 
Uages  there  were  tew  ladies  in  the  country  that  would  not 
have  been  flattered  by  those  attentions  so  long  and  so  de- 
votedly bestowed  on  her. 

"  Bessy!"  said  Herbert  after  they  had  walked  a  little  way 
in  silence,  "  Bossy  !  what  have  I  to  hope  for  now  ?— will  you 
trust  me  V 

She  raised  her  eyea  and  looked  him  in  ihe  face  one  moment 
steadily.  It  was  enough.  The  soul  that  beamed  on  her 
through  those  clear  hazel  eyes  was  all  that  sho  could  desire. 

"  I  will  trust  you,  Mr.  Herbert !"  she  replied. 

"  Even  to  become  my  wife  ]" 

"  Even  to  become  your  wife  !" 

Herbert  took  the  hand  which  slio  held  out  to  Jiim,  and 
pressed  it  to  his  lips  in  silence.  The  color  came  and  went  on 
his  cheek  like  clouds  over  an  April  sky,  and  his  eyes  filled 
with  tears  as  he  turned  them  on  Bessy. 

"  This  moment  repays  me  for  all,"  he  said  in  a  voice  quiver- 
ing with  emotion ;  "  may  Heaven  grant  me  grace  to  make  you 
as  happy  as  you  deserve  to  be  all  your  life  long  !" 

The  round  full  moon  was  rising  over  the  valley  of  the  Suir 
and  gilding  St.  Finian's  ruined  pile  and  the  ancient  Castle  of 
Ardfinnan  when  Henry  Herbert  and  Bessy  Conway  appeared 
before  the  astonished  parents  of  the  latter,  Billy  Potts  bidding 
them  "  good  night"  at  the  door.  Hearing  how  the  matted 
stood,  the  old  people  were,  of  course,  very  willing  to  givo 
their  consent  that  their  daughter  should  become  the  wedded 


TnE  IRISH  cmi,  is  America. 


315 


wifo  of  their  liaiulsome  young  landlord,  and  before  Herbert 
loft  tilt  house  the  day  of  days  was  appointed.  Just  two  weeks 
from  that  evening,  Fatlier  Daly  blessed  their  union,  and  Be^sy 
Conway  left  her  humble  homo  for  tlio  elegant  dwelling  of  the 
Herberts. 

That  was  the  making  of  the  Conways,  as  the  neighbors  used 
to  Pay.  Denis  Conway's  farm  was  secured  by  lease  to  the 
family  for  "  nin  ty-nine  years"  at  a  nominal  rent.  One  of  the 
young  men  was  made  steward  up  at  the  Lodge,  and  the  other 
remained  at  home  to  assist  their  father.  Nancy  was  well 
married  a  few  months  after  Bessy,  to  a  "  gentleman  farmer" 
in  the  vicinity,  who  would  not  have  looked  at  her  before. 
Bessy  and  her  husband  would  fain  have  the  old  couple  go  and 
live  with  them  but  this  they  would  never  consent  to  do.  A 
grand  house  like  that  wouldn't  answer  them  at  all,  they  said, 
and  they  were  sure  they'd  never  find  themselves  at  homo  in 
it.  So  the  old  man  and  the  old  womai.  jogged  along  in  their 
owTi  lowly  path  just  the  same  as  if  Bessy  were  Bessy  Conway 
still  and  they  tenant,s  at  will  as  in  fonner  times.  Ellon,  of 
course,  remained  at  home  to  assist  her  mother  in  keeping 
house. 

As  for  Henry  Herbert,  he  was  in  all  respects  an  altared 
man.  Ho  had  sown  his  wild  oats,  as  the  people  said,  and  hia 
real  character  was  matured  under  the  saving  influence  of 
religion.  His  accession  to  the  estate  was  a  blessing  to  the 
tenantry,  for  now  that  the  impulses  of  his  generou3°naturo 
were  regulated  by  prudence  and  good  sense,  he  became  an 
example  to  the  surrounding  gentry,  and  was  generally  ac- 
knowledged to  bo  one  of  the  best  landlords  in  the  county 
Tipperary.  And  Bessy  was  the  happiest  of  wives,  as  she  said 
herself  to  Mrs.  Walters  when  that  lady  and  her  worthy  hus- 
band came  to  spend  some  weeks  at  the  Lodge  the  summer 
after  Bessy's  marriage. 

Captain  Walters  was  at  first  a  little  shy  of  Herbert  on  account 


JJIG 


BESSY    CONMVAV;     OR, 


P"«"e  that  s„„,.,X  ,  ,|k'    "•",'■  ""r'-  ■■■"»'■  ''i"n<^r  in  el,„. 

'■'»  -an..  .0  ;„„  ca„' :t°;    m™::^:;';;^'"""'  --"<'^  I 

««sc,UI,o  tl,rosl,oM  of  Ivyl,„l„  „  '"""""■  S""""  <»«• 

Tl.mk  no  more  „f  ,vlnt  ,1.        •  ^'"''  ■''"''  "'"•  ■**''""•'■'• 

honor  and  (ah  nam,  LT.u^tlt       ,    "  «"""'»"■'  "f  ''" 

to  his  wife',  request  tl.at  l,e  TJ,T,'  "  """'"'''  ""'^""^ 

«0M.n„       e,:,.„rjr:fsre:,r 

^cf^:  ^rc'jz::^'"' '-  --""•^'"^  -  ^  -, 

-ere  well  ac„„a  nfed'rtfh  i  ,:"!"''•,  ^"l  "'=''"'*°""S  P-'' 

McG,„gan  was  a  fre„,e„t  visitor  there  Zl'  ""?:  "'" 
youns  mistress  of  the  mansion  .„.   7  •     ?,  '' "  '""o  '^o 

account  of  Bid's  curtrZio"  oT-U  "  '"""  """  "" 
anO  ...e  ruhy  that  spark,e;;rh°".e°arf.  „"  'Trfhr,""^-"""'" 
Of  happiness  that  glided  bv  so  smonf . ,     *,  """^  y^*'''"« 

the  dreary  past  seemed  1  fee  a  tr^M  iV^'  ''"^'"^  ^"^  ^" 
bered  in  blissful  con^Lt  Uh  '  "^""^'^^  ^'^''^>  only  rernem- 
-ro  fervent  ..Ut:^:t^;!:  ^::':;-^'^-  ^  -"-  for 

THE   EXD. 


CATALOGUE  OF  BOOKS 

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ADELMAR,  THE   TEMPLAR.     Cloth,        .         .        .  «o  '^'i 
ALL  FOR  JESUS;  or,  The  Easy  Ways  of  Divine  Love         " 
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ALICE  RIORDAN;  or,  Tlio  Blind  Man's  Daughter.    By 

Mrs.  Sadmkk, noo 

ALTON  PARK,    -  n  7^ 

AILEY  MOORE.     2  vol.^., 0  7" 

ALICE  SIIERWIN;  or,  The  Days  of  Sir  Thomas  More. 

«oconta;  gilt, \  \2 

This  is  an  EiceUcnt  Uidorical  Novel  of  the  time  of  the  Re- 
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ART  OF  SUFFERING.  Translated  from  the  French 
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ALTAR  MANUAL  ;  or,  Instructions  for  Confession  and 
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AUDIN  S  LIFE  OF  HENRY  VIII.     8vo     -        -        -  <>  (K) 

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ARCIICONFRATERNITY  OF  THE  HEART  OF  MARY  0  li» 

ARK  OF  THE  COVENANT.     By  Rev.  T.  S.  Pkkston  0  38 

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BALMES'  FUNDAMENTAL  PHILOSOPHY.     Trans- 

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BALMES   ON   EUROPEAN   CIVILIZATION.    8vo.,      2  00 


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(I 
II 


SCHMIDT'S  ONK  irrjvrnn.'n  mr  „«  " 

f.HDENCES  OP  CA'I'ItOr  irirr 
{.IfK  OF  lilSIIOI.  pLSt        '       " 

IN    GERMANV,     SWIT/FBr    vn 
AND  KNOLAND.    TyJit     :        ■ 

(Z-1':T  "'  '"o  ""'"•''  >"  1  voi: 
SPANISIt  TESTAME.VT,  .':■-- 

dirkcto'r,        .      "      ■      ■      - 
consoler,       -      "     ■      ■     - 

BED  HAND  OP  vS.R-;  o'r  TI,;  For" 
ImiM  of  Hush  ONeil  '  "" 

XHE    CONFEDERATE    CniEFTAIN<l 


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0  38 

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0  60 

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0  76 

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1  60 
1  60 
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2  60 

1  26 
0  88 
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'iwth,  $1   25  J  glit, 


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If 


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II 


II 


THE   COTT.\«E  AIVD  PARLOIl    I.IIIIlAliV. 

SADLlEirS  (MRS.  J.)  1.  THK  SPANISH  CAVA- 
LIERS. A  Tale  of  the  Moorish  War.s  in 
Spalti.  Tmiishiteil  fium  th«!  Ficiich,  by 
Mrs.  J.  SAPtiER.  lOmo.  Cloth,  50c  • 
cloth,  jrilt, : 

2.  ELINOR  PRESTON ;  or,  Sconos  at 
Home  and  AI)road.  By  Mrs.  J.  Sad- 
UKR.  (Ill  Press.)  lOmo.  Cloth,  SOc. ; 
cloth,  gilt, 

3.  BESSV  CONWAY;  or,  The  Irish  Girl 
in  America.  IJy  Mrs.  J.  Sauliek. 
IGmo.     Cloth,  r)Oc. ;  cloth,  gilt,     - 

4.  THK  CONFESSIONS  OF  AN  APOS- 
TATE;  or.  Scenes  from  a  Troubled 
Life.  By  Mrs.  J.  Sadlikk.  (In  Press.) 
lf;mo.     Cloth,  r)()c. ;  cloth,  gilt,   - 

C.  CON  OREGAN  ;  or,  Scenes  from  Emi- 
grant Life.  By  Mrs.  J.  Saomku.  (In 
Press.)    lOmo.   Cloth,  50c. ;  cloth,  gilt, 

6.  MAUREEN  DHU.  A  Talo  of  the 
Claddagh  at  Galway.  By  Mrs.  J.  Sad- 
JAF.n.  (In  Press.)  IGmo.  Cloth,  50c. : 
cloth,  gilt, 

7.  FATHER  SIIEEIIY.  and  Other  'es. 
By  Mr.s.  J.  Sadlikr.  (^ In  Press.)  ,no, 
Cloth,  50  cents  ;  cloth,  gilt, 

8.  NORMAN  STEEL,  THE  PRIEST 
HUNTER,  and  Other  Tales.  By  Mrs. 
J.  8ADi..ii.u.    l6mo.    Cloth, 

TRANSLATIONS. 

ORPINI'S  LIFE  OF  Tnr  BLESSED 
VIRGIN.     At  from  $t  50  to 

DE  LIGNEY'S  LIFE  OF  CHRIST.  At 
from  $4  to  -        -        .        .         . 

J  TFE  OF  CHRIST  ;  or,  Jesus  Revealed 
to  Childhood  and  Youth.  Cloth,  50c. ; 
cloth,  gilt, 

ORPHAN   JP  MOSCOW.     A  Tale, 

CASTLE  OF  ROUSILLON.     A  Tale,     - 

DUTY  OF  A  CHRISTIAN  TOWARDS 
OOD.     Half  bound.  88c. ;    clot]) 

COLLOT'S  DOCTRINAL  AND  SCRIP- 
TURAL  CATECHISM.  Half  bound, 
38c. ;  cloth,  -        -        .        .        . 

BENJAMIN:  or.  The  Punil  of  the  Chris- 
tian Brothers. '  Cloth,  25c. ;  gilt, 

THE  BABBLER.  A  Moral  Drama  for 
Boys,  -        -      , 


M 


II 


II 


(( 


(( 


(( 
(( 
C( 


ft 


60  76 


0  75 


0  75 


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0  75 


0  75 


0  75 


0  50 

$V2  00 
12  00 


0  75 
0  50 
0  50 

0  50 


0  50 
0  38 
0  15 


24 


BOOKS  PUBMSIIED  BV  D.  &  J.  SADI.IER  &  CO. 


SADLIERS  (MRS^J.)  JULIA  ;  or.  The  Gold  Thimble. 
A  Moral  Drama  for  Girls      - 

^^^^^^^.ESS ;' or.  The  Dou'ble  Lesson.    (In 

T^i£|nOUT.' A  T'ale  ofPola'nd.   I'smo.; 

SUNDAY  MONITOR,"        .""■'■- 
STORIES  OF  THE  SEVEN  VIRTUFq     " 
ST.  VINCENT'S  MANUaT  ^™^^^'    "        "        " 
ST.  AUGUSTINE'S  CONFESSIONS  "        "        " 

SOUL  ON  CALVAR^ ^l"^™^«'  '        "        " 

SODALIST'S  FRIEND        -"'""■ 
SirFFlilUNGS  0|  CHW|T.   ByFafter  Xn"o«.;,  SX, 

SPANISH  CAVALIERS.    A  Tafe  „f  the  M;orish  Wa,; 
mZ^°f  CATHOLIC   SCHOOLS.    ByDr.'crM- 

T. 

"        '^ANTl''v°''"n^°''    THe'iKISH    PEAS: 

»         ^„   ^^^^^'     By  Carlton,     - 
OF  THE  FESTIVALS,         - 
OF  THE  SACRAMENTS      -        ."        "        " 
AND  LEGENDS  FROM  IIISTORV 

?mA?si''pT»?f»'';™^'^ 'CONFESSION,   :    ; 

IKIALS  OF  A  MIND.     By  Dr  Ivf^ 

THINK  WELL  ON'T.     By  Bisl  or' CuArT..       "        ' 

:i,f =.  TAxt£?f ™^ --- 

THE  TRIALS  OF  MAYBROOK      ATae  ' 

tJiV^S^^^v^e^Ip^e^rVl"^^'^^^^^^^^'^"^"^^^ 

THE  VISITATION  MANUAL,  "        ."        I        '        " 
THE  MINER'S  DAUGHTER     -        -  "        " 

THE  SAINTS  OF  ERIN  '  "        "        "        ' 

THE  YOUNG  COMMUNICANTS,      '-".'.'. 


$0  15 
0  25 
0  25 


50 


0 

0  38 
0  88 
0  75 
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0  38 
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0  60 

1  60 
0  38 


0  75 

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80  50 

0  75 
0  38 
0  60 
0  02 

0  75 
0  25 
0  50 
0  19 

0  50 
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0  50 
0  88 
0  75 

0  75 

1  00 
0  88 
0  50 
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£\     r»Q 

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BOOKS  PUBLISH Kn  TiY  D.  k  J.  SADLIEK  &  CO. 


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From  the 
(In  Press.)     Paper, 


THE  SACRAMENTALS.  By  Barry 
THE  CHRISTIAN  MOTHER,  -  .' 
THE  POPE'S   NIECE,   and  Otiier  Tales 

French,  by  Mrs.  J.  Sadlier. 

15c. ;  cloth,  -  -  . 
THE  SCAPULAR  OF  THE  PASSION  -"  '  " 
THE  VISION  OF  OLD  ANDREW  THE  WE  VVEr" 
THE  BIBLE  QUESTION  FAIRLY   TESTED  ' 

?I  E  ORlr?^^^i.'^V.^^v^"^^"'«  Sec-T  2  vols., 
'"L^hof'Sfay.^'colh'^^'  ^^'  ^^^^"^^^^  '-  ''^ 
THE  IRISH  AGENT  (Valkntixe  McClct'chy) 

THE  UR8ULINE  MONTH  OF    MARY 
THE    MONTH    OF    MARY. 
French,  by  Faber, 


By 


the 


cloth, 
Translated    from 
THE  PROPHECIES  OF  ST.  Co'lUm'bkILLE,"        -' 

W. 

^^*?S'®   ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY  OF   IRE- 
LAND,     -         -         . 

S^pt{?«  n  S,S?^^S-     With  iilustr^tions,       -"        .' 
WARD'S  CANTOS  ;  or,  Ensiand's  Reformation,  - 

LRRATA  OF  THE  PROTESTANT  BIBLE 
Half  bound,  50  cents  :  cloth.    - 

TREE  OF  LIFE, 
^J^TE^S^CONFUTATION  OF  CHURCH   OP   ENqI 

WILBERFORCE  ON  CHURCH  AUTHORTTV  ' 

WILLY  BURKE.     By  Mrs.  SadlVer           .  ^^'.  ' 

wHf.^JS^^^-     ByCARLTOK,       '-        -        .  : 

WILLITOFT;      or,    The    Days' of    James    I.  By 

McSllERRY,        -  .  .  ,  ■^ 

WELL!  WELL.     A  Tale.     By  Rev  m"  A  WATr*r„   " 
WISEMAN'S  (CARDINAL)  iESfuRES  ON   HOLY 
WEEK,      -        -         _ 
CATHOLIC  DOCTRINE        - 
REAL  PRESENCE       - '      . 
SCIENCE    AND    REVEALED    RELl- 
QION.     2  vols.,  - 

ESSAYS   ON   VARIOUS    SUBJECTs" 
3  vols.,        -         _         . 

SERMONS,  -..""" 

LAST  FOUR  POPES, 

TOUR  IN  IRELAND,  ..." 

ViNnrcATToi^  OF  iT*'"^ 

HIDDEN  GEM.  :   .'"^^'.        '        ' 


II 


It 

« 

(I 


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0  06 
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0  76 

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ranging  in  prices,  from  05  to     -        -        -      ". 

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1  ear.     18mo.,  718  pages,  finely  illustrated. 
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